PennFuture Applauds Proposed Clean Car Rules; EQB Action to Allow Rulemaking Will Result in Cleaner Air, Lower Gasoline Prices

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 18, 2005 -- Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) today praised the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) for voting to allow the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to move forward with regulations requiring cars sold in the Commonwealth to meet more protective pollution standards beginning with the 2008 model year. The regulations were first proposed by the DEP under then-Governor Tom Ridge, but were delayed. The Rendell Administration is seeking to publish the rules for comment and adoption as law.

"There's no doubt about it - this is a major victory for consumers, the environment and the economy," said John Hanger, President and CEO of PennFuture. "Putting cleaner cars on the road will mean reducing our demand for gasoline, which will lead to price cuts. In these days of three-dollar-a- gallon fill-ups, that is really good news. Thanks to the EQB, Pennsylvania families will have more money in their pockets.

"Adopting a cleaner car standard also means cleaner air, which is worth the world for Pennsylvania's children and seniors," continued Hanger. "With less pollution being released, we should see fewer asthma attacks, other breathing problems and cardiac problems, all of which are exacerbated by pollution from cars and trucks. That is not only great news for the health of one million Pennsylvanians who have respiratory problems, but will also mean lower health care bills.

"These new rules will also help us attract new businesses," said Hanger. "As new cleaner cars replace older and more polluting autos, most Pennsylvania counties will finally be able to meet clean air standards for ozone smog pollution, eliminating a major impediment to new businesses moving in."

Today's decision means that DEP will publish the proposed regulations for public comment. After a public comment period of 60 days and three public meetings around the state, the EQB will vote on the final rules. Once the rules are fully implemented, Pennsylvania will join Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and California in opting for the clean car program.

The clean cars program requires automakers to reach an average pollution standard for vehicles offered for sale in Pennsylvania. In other words, automakers must ensure that sales of vehicles that emit more pollution are balanced out by sales of those that emit much less pollution. For new car sales beginning with the 2008 model year, only those vehicles certified by the California Air Resources Board could be sold and registered in Pennsylvania. The list of cars certified and available for sale this year makes a list 14-1/2 feet long in a tiny 7.5 font. It includes American made and foreign SUVs, luxury sedans and compacts.

In 1998 during the Ridge Administration, Pennsylvania adopted the California car program in order to be able to participate in the National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program. Under the terms of the NLEV program, which expires in 2006, the state was supposed to fully implement the program starting with model year 2006 - this year. However, changes to the clean car program and other considerations made it necessary for Pennsylvania to move implementation back to the 2008 model year.

"These new rules will really pay off for Pennsylvania," concluded Hanger. "Cleaner air with fewer emergency room visits; lower demand and price for gasoline; less gas used, with the average car owner expected to save $2,100 over the life of the vehicle (and that is figured on the long-ago cost of $2.00 for a gallon of gas) and elimination of barriers to recruiting new businesses to Pennsylvania all mean money in the bank and a better, cleaner state. You can't ask for anything better!"

PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state's environment and economy.