States may gain power over emissions standards

The Democrat welcomes comments. Inappropriate language or comments outside our standards will be removed. No guest or anonymous comments allowed.

January 26, 2009

States may gain power over emissions standards

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Mon Jan 26, 2009, 09:41 AM CST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Plunging into energy policy, President Barack Obama is poised to give states a freer hand in curbing emissions from cars, and to get his government moving on fuel-efficiency standards that could remake the auto industry.

Obama will announce his plans Monday at the White House, according to officials familiar with the details who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid pre-empting the president.

The attention to energy comes as Obama heads into his first full week as president, with an agenda dominated by economic woes and a push to get a huge stimulus plan through Congress.

In one key move, Obama is aiming to let California and other states set their own tailpipe emission standards, a tool for reducing the gases, principally carbon dioxide, that contribute to global warming.

And in the other, Obama will order the Transportation Department to enact short-term rules on how automakers can improve fuel efficiency of their new models based on a 2007 law.

On car emissions, the Clean Air Act gives California special authority to regulate vehicle pollution because the state began regulating such pollution before the federal government did. But a federal waiver is still required; if the waiver is granted, other states can choose to adopt California’s standards or the federal ones.

But in 2007 the Bush administration’s Environmental Protection Agency denied California’s request, gaining praise from the auto industry but touching off a storm of investigations and lawsuits from Democrats and environmental groups who contended the denial was based on political instead of scientific reasons.

California’s proposed restrictions would force automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016.

At least 13 other states — Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington — have already adopted California’s standards, and they have been under consideration elsewhere, too.

Last week, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, sent a letter to Obama asking him to give California and other states permission to implement the tough tailpipe-emission standards. Schwarzenegger said Obama “has a unique opportunity to both support the pioneering leadership of these states and move America toward global leadership on addressing climate change.”

Obama will direct EPA regulators to re-examine California’s case. The formal process will take time but is expected to end up in the states’ favor. The Bush administration had rejected the request on grounds that a national fuel-efficiency strategy would work better — the same position the auto industry took.

“Reports of President Obama’s decision to revisit the outrageous denial of the California waiver by the Bush Administration are more than welcome news,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said in a written statement released Sunday night. “When the waiver is signed, it will be a signal to Detroit that a huge market awaits them if they do the right thing and produce the cleanest, most efficient vehicles possible.”

Text Only

AP Story Section

Inside bin Laden’s lair with SEAL Team Six
WASHINGTON (AP) — So much could have gone wrong as SEAL Team Six swept over Pakistan’s dark landscape, dropped down ropes into a compound lined by wall after wall, exchanged gunfire and confronted “Geronimo” face to face. The vital things went right.
Just about every contingency the 25 commandos trained for came at them, rapidly, chaotically and dangerously, in their lunge for Osama bin Laden.

May 5, 2011
WWII pilot gets Distinguished Service Cross BOSSIER CITY, La. (AP) — A Texas man nearing his 90th birthday has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his part in a daring 1943 attack on Nazi-controlled oil fields in Romania.
February 3, 2009
Ohio dad who shock-collared kids gets 16 years XENIA, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for disciplining his children with a dog shock collar.
February 3, 2009
Cop suspected in wife’s vanishing loses new love BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (AP) — A woman who became engaged to a former suburban Chicago police sergeant suspected in his wife’s 2007 disappearance moved out of his home Friday, hours after he spoke about his current and past relationships on a national television show.
February 3, 2009
Pythons found after brief escape from Calif. home SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — A 23-foot, 130-pound python can run but it can’t hide.
February 3, 2009
Bush first visit to future Dallas home DALLAS (AP) — Former President George W. Bush has made his first visit to the $2.1 million Dallas house that he’ll soon call home.
January 28, 2009
Doctor says octuplets appear healthy BELLFLOWER, Calif. (AP) — Newborn octuplets in Southern California are a feisty bunch that appear healthy even at nine weeks premature, a doctor said Tuesday.
January 28, 2009
Austin program works to restore wildlife habitat AUSTIN (AP) — Patricia Roberts-Miller says her yard was a boring swath of grass when she and her family moved into their North Austin home three years ago.

January 28, 2009
TI to shed 3,400 jobs by September Texas Instruments Inc., which makes chips for cell phones and other gadgets, said Monday it will cut 3,400 jobs because demand has slackened amid a slowing economy.
January 27, 2009
Elder Bush: Son held to principles after attacks NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former President George H.W. Bush says he’s proud of how his son held to his principles during his presidency and kept the U.S. safe after the 2001 terror attacks.
January 27, 2009
More AP Story Section Headlines

If you are a registered voter in the Weatherford ISD, and either have voted or plan to vote Saturday, are voting for or against the proposed $107.32 million bond?