Texas legislators urge tougher emission laws
January 27, 2009
Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to re-examine whether California and other states should be allowed to impose tougher auto emission standards on carmakers to fight greenhouse gas emissions. The Bush administration had blocked the efforts by the states.
Written by Brandi Grissom, The El Paso Times
AUSTIN -- Two Democratic Texas lawmakers urged tightening of vehicle emission standards in the Lone Star State on Monday on the heels of President Barack Obama's move toward allowing states to require cleaner cars.
"The time for action has long passed," said state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.
Obama ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to re-examine whether California and other states should be allowed to impose tougher auto emission standards on carmakers to fight greenhouse gas emissions. The Bush administration had blocked the efforts by the states.
Obama also said his administration would issue new fuel-efficiency requirements to cover 2011 model year vehicles.
Ellis and state Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, have filed legislation that would implement emissions restrictions similar to the ones California has pushed for.
Carmakers and dealers said reducing greenhouse emissions was a great idea, but they were concerned about costly regulations and conflicting state and federal rules at a time when car sales are already struggling. U.S. auto sales fell 18 percent in 2008.
But Jim Marston, regional director of the Texas office of Environmental Defense, said that argument doesn't hold water anymore because the future of American automakers depends on their ability to produce more efficient cars in the face of rising gas prices.
New regulations, he said, could force them in the direction they need to go.
Cleaner cars may cost more up front, Marston said, but in the long run, drivers would save with more fuel-efficient vehicles.
"Analysis shows that at an average price of $1.74 per gallon, the standards will actually save consumers money," Marston said.
Wen-Whai Li, chair of the University of Texas at El Paso civil engineering department, said tighter emissions restrictions would certainly improve air quality in the region.
But, he said, the improvements would likely be limited by pollution from Juárez, where cars are likely older and less
Auto emissions well maintained.
"Air quality doesn't have boundaries," Li said, "and air pollution does not recognize political boundaries."
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