Showdown in Vermont: Auto Manufacturers vs. Global Warming

A Burlington, Vermont federal courtroom will be the next showdown between automakers and states attempting to enforce emissions regulations to reduce carbon dioxide from vehicle emissions. Big auto manufacturers go to court today in an attempt to block greenhouse gas emission regulations set by California Regulation, Assembly Bill No. 1493, Pavley, which Vermont and nine other states have adopted. Vermont will be the first court to decide if states have the authority to establish their own fuel standards, thereby controlling carbon emissions.

If the regulation stands, it would set carbon limits more stringent that those put in place by the US government, allowing other states to adopt the California rulings and create a system where car manufacturers would need to meet two separate standards - those for “federal cars” as opposed to the much tighter regulations of “California cars.”

The California regulation go into effect with cars from model year 2009 and would decrease carbon dioxide emissions by forcing manufacturers to increase average fuel efficiency to 43 miles per gallon. This would achieve a 23% reduction in global warming emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from new cars by 2012.

See the Source:
International Herald Tribune
California Clean Cars Campaign
California Assembly Bill No. 1493

EU’s Environmental Endeavors

The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance heard the testimony of Ambassador John Bruton this week, outlining the European Union’s energy policy objectives.

With the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting energy dependency, the Ambassador stated several EU policies such as energy taxation, the EU emission trading system, and a plan for sustainable coal technologies.

"Although EU energy policy is far from being created from scratch - a number of energy efficiency and renewables promotion measures date back more than 10 years - it is just recently that the EU has opted for a comprehensive, integrated and ambitious policy set in the field of energy and fight against climate change," said Ambassador Bruton, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, during testimony.

He continued "the EU’s increasing dependency on imports threatens not only its security of supply but it also implies higher prices, if, for example, the price of oil rises to $100 per barrel in today’s money, the EU's energy import bill will be around 50 percent higher by 2030. While Europeans would have to pay a lot more for their energy, few additional jobs in the EU would be created this way. In contrast, boosting investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and new technologies has wide-reaching benefits and would contribute to the EU’s strategy for growth and jobs."

Addressing the common situation of the EU and United States’ energy situation, Ambassador Bruton concluded "…that in order to ensure a sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply, a common response is needed."

See the Source:
Ambassador Bruton’s testimony

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About new emissions control technologies offered by CleanAIR Systems

Lots of SOx and NOx

On March 26, 2007 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2007, giving authority to the US Coast Guard and the EPA to establish and enforce emission limits on domestic and foreign ships entering U.S. waters. Passing 359 to 48, the bill would bring the US into compliance with regulations already used by other countries and adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 1997 to limit emissions of sulfur dioxide (a main component of SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx).

Pollutants such as SOx and NOx deplete the environment’s ozone layer, contribute to global warming, effect climate change and have a serious impact on health.

According to a report issued by The International Council on Clean Transportation entitled, “Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ocean-going Ships: Impacts, Mitigation Options and Opportunities for Managing Growth,” marine fuel contains a much higher sulfur content than highway diesel fuel. (Recent regulations have forced a substantial decrease in sulfur content for diesel fuel available throughout the United States, resulting in the use of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel for on- and off-highway vehicles, thereby lowing SOx emissions.) The report states that ocean-going ships produce more sulfur dioxide than all of the cars, trucks and buses in the world combine.

The latest major action on the bill was on March 28th as it was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

See the Source:
Library of Congress
The International Council on Clean Transportation
Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ocean-going Ships

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More about the health and environmental impact of NOx.