August 2004
http://www.dieselnet.com/
California releases final greenhouse gas emission proposal ----
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released its final report
proposing a regulation that limits greenhouse gas emissions from
passenger cars and light trucks beginning in 2009. The proposal will
be considered at the ARB meeting on September 23rd.
The report describes technology packages (such as engine and
drivetrain modifications leading to improved fuel economy, or air
conditioning improvements) that can result in reduced emissions of
greenhouse gases. ARB expects the technology packages to result in
emission reductions of about 25% for cars and light trucks and about
18% for larger trucks and SUVs during the initial phase of the
regulation set for 2009 through 2012. The reductions would be up to
34% for cars and light trucks and 25% for larger vehicles when the
rule is fully implemented after 2016.
The final report contains a few changes from the initial draft
proposal released on June 14 (see DieselNet update of June 2004). The
first change is a slight increase in stringency for passenger cars
and smaller trucks and a slight decrease in stringency for heavier
pickups and large SUVs. Overall, the change will result in a slightly
higher amount of pollution controlled than forecast before.
The second change extends the regulation's two phase-in periods from
three years each to four years each starting in 2009.
The third major change from the June 14 draft is an increase in the
expected cost of mid-term implementation phase to automakers of about
$100 per vehicle compared to the earlier estimate.
ARB estimates that the new regulation will add about $292 to the
costs of cars and small trucks and about $308 to the cost of large
pickups and SUVs during the regulation's initial phase (2009-2012),
and an average of $626 for cars and $955 for large pickups during the
mid- term phase (2013-2016). The report notes that buyers of new cars
after 2009 will regain those added costs through lower operating
costs over the vehicle's lifetime.
The proposal has been developed under the California Bill AB 1493,
adopted in 2002, which requires the ARB to develop and adopt
regulations that achieve the "maximum feasible reduction of
greenhouse gases emitted by passenger vehicles and light-duty
trucks". It is the first legislation in US history to regulate
greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks.
The regulation will be likely challenged in court by the automotive
industry and, possibly, by the federal government. Car manufacturers
consider the rule not an emission standard, but a disguised form of
fuel economy regulation. California has the right to set up its own
emission standards, but fuel economy remains under federal
jurisdiction.
Proposal:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/grnhsgas/isor.pdf
Appendices:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/grnhsgas/appa.pdf
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/grnhsgas/appb.pdf
Press release:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr080604.htm
Article by Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=5901644
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