Automakers Attack Proposal to Address Global Warming (what's new?)

[kysrsoze]

ETROIT, Sept. 22 - Automakers on Wednesday attacked a California plan to regulate automotive emissions of global warming gases. The state's proposal "clearly goes far beyond what is reasonable and achievable," said Fred Webber, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a lobbying group that includes all of the major automakers except Honda and Nissan.

(snip)

The plan, if it is approved and survives legal challenges, would have enormous implications for the efficiency of cars and trucks sold in California. It could also affect Northeastern states like New York that follow California's air pollution rules. It would be several years before a plan would begin to take effect, however, and a legal challenge is likely from the industry.

The Bush administration and other Republicans have generally rejected efforts to regulate global warming. But in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has said he supports the emissions plan, which was signed by Gray Davis, the former Democratic governor.

Automakers have criticized the plan before, but they attacked it more directly Wednesday on several fronts. One of their main arguments is that the plan is pre-empted by Washington's authority to regulate fuel economy, because improving a car's fuel efficiency is by far the most significant way to cut emissions linked to climate change.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/23/business/23clean.html

[kwolf68]

1. So does

This make Bush and the auto-makers "Girly-Men Environmentalists?"

[gottaB]

2. I wonder what Toyota really thinks

They joined the Alliance at a time when California's Environmental Protection Agency was demanding a recall of Toyota models due to emissions. They settled that case in 2002. Now their hybrids are meeting emissions standards and giving them a competitive advantage.