California in the Driver’s Seat with New Clean Car Standards

Friday, January 27, 2012

We did it! Today, California’s air regulator, the Air Resources Board, adopted strong regulations for vehicles—standards the Coalition for Clean Air promoted for decades, with your help!

Goodbye gas pump, hello clean air
Collectively, these historic laws advance the alternative fuel car market, reduce air pollution, and save new car buyers about $4,000 over the life of the car. 

We can also expect from these laws:

• One in seven new cars to be low- or no-polluting by 2025
• 37,000 new jobs created and an influx of $14 billion to our state’s economy
• 34% greenhouse gas reductions over a nine-year period

Setting the bar high for the nation
These smog-forming pollution laws adopted today will harmonize with future federal ones, which the Air Board is currently helping federal agencies to develop. 

“Today is the kind of day we envisioned in 2002 when we co-sponsored AB 1493, California’s Clean Cars law, which established the nation’s first clean fuels criteria,” said Dr. Joseph K. Lyou, president and CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air.

Another example of how collaborative models work
Deep-pocketed carmakers, a complex regulatory structure, and diverse stakeholders made today’s adoption tough to achieve.  But through our technical policy and coalition-building expertise— and persistence—we helped bring policymakers, industry and community together to focus on our common goal: clean cars to improve California’s air.  

“We applaud the Air Board and all who helped get these regulations adopted. California—and the rest of the country—are on the right path to achieve clean air and prevent climate change,” added Lyou.

Today is a victory for all Californians, and we are proud to have committed supporters and advocates who ensured these strong laws.  Bravo!