Vermont Requires 'Global Warming' Labels For New Cars

[jpak]

http://www.wptz.com/news/18416021/detail.html

WATERBURY, Vt. -- Vermont is the first New England state requiring all 2010 and newer cars, light trucks and SUVs sold in the state to carry labels with global warming scores.

Vermont's new labeling regulation was adopted as required by the Legislature in May 2007, and is based on the recently revised California rule, which required new global warming labels beginning in January, 2009.

Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wood signed the environmental performance labeling rule, which takes effect Jan. 3. The new labels allow car and truck buyers to compare both "global warming" scores and "smog" scores on different vehicles they may be interested in purchasing.

"These new labels will make it easy for Vermonters to choose cleaner vehicles while comparing fuel efficiency," said Wood. "Vermont is still the greenest state in the country but our largest output of greenhouse gas emissions comes from transportation."

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[glowing]

1. That's because public transportation is nill.. AND I'm sure no tree would be felled

in the creation of a highspeed transit route around the state.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Have you ever been to Vermont?

In order for "public transportation" to make sense, you really need a decent population density. (Is it more efficient to drive a bus around to carry one passenger than for that passenger to drive a car?)

Vermont's population density is lower than Texas'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population_density

They have fewer citizens than Alaska.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population

But, by all means, criticize them for taking this action. After all, it's much better for them to do nothing (right?)

[glowing]

3. Yes, lived there for my first 18yrs. AND no, population density doesn't make much

sense to install public transportation.. except when you factor in the aging population, the people who cannot drive due to DUI's, and the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle, including the insurance. AND yes, I have pics from 100yrs ago when the valley's had been cleared for production of food sources and logging was sent down the Conneticut River to differing mills for processing. If you flatten VT out, it would be the size of Texas. No one is going to farm on the side of a Mountain, but the loss of family farming and any industry has made the state a "tourist" destination. This means crappy pay jobs and harsh environmental standards in regards to any development. My mom, in her younger days, tried to make people who moved in and got into politics, understand what it means to have a balance. She's now 57 and long ago gave up on trying to get people who moved in to run the state what the history of VT was really like. Of course, my grandmother, when alive, could share all the stories. So, yes, I understand VT. Its nice and pristine. On the other hand, a fast train going thru the state would at least allow one to drive to the closest "city" and hop on a train and go into the city, commute to MA, or head to Washington D.C. to "see the govt" in action. My 8th grade class trip took us on an Amtrak train down to D.C. Amtrak discontinued the service a year later.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. You'll be pleased to know that Vermont has Amtrak service

http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/routeguidevermonter.pdf

And the http://www.gmtaride.org/">GMTA provides bus service.

[glowing]

5. Yes, but the year after the trip they seriously downsized the services and the stations.

AND that has to do with ridership as well.. of course Amtrak is outdated.. Its time for some highspeed transportation.. A middle ground between driving for hours or flying. It would allow more lower middle class people to travel.. which would help the economy.

[depakid]

6. Australia has these too

The new label has two main purposes. They are:

* spelling out the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the vehicle; and
* combatting the cost of fuel by showing the amount of fuel consumed in city and highway conditions.

The transport sector overall is responsible for 14 per cent of emissions.

The new label is about helping motorists make informed choices about the environmental impact of their new car and the cost of running their vehicle on the family budget.

The inclusion of additional data on the new fuel consumption label will assist car buyers to more reliably compare the relative fuel consumption performance of different makes and models.

While the numbers on a fuel consumption label do not replicate all driving conditions, additional information on the new fuel consumption label will help consumers to better understand the fuel consumption of vehicles under different traffic conditions.

The label complements the Governments Green Vehicle Guide website (www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au), which rates all new cars sold in Australia on greenhouse and pollution performance and provides fuel consumption data.

http://www.pressportal.com.au/news/120/ARTICLE/1789/2008-02-22.html

[depakid]

7. Sample label