California

Summary: The 2002 passage of the Pavley Bill in California was the first time that a law in the United States addressed the issue of greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. In 2004, California adopted a new set of vehicle emission standards to implement the Pavley law. The regulations require automakers to produce vehicles that will, on average, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 30% from 2002 levels by 2016. Increased efficiency through the use of improved vehicle technology is expected to be the primary method for obtaining these reductions. Several other states have adopted California’s emissions program.

However, in order to be permissible under the federal Clean Air Act, California’s vehicle emissions standards need a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA denied this waiver in February of 2008, based on the conclusion that California lacks the “compelling and extraordinary conditions” required for the waiver to be granted. California and other states have challenged this decision in court.

Links: For a comprehensive listing of states that have adopted or are considering California’s vehicle emission standards, please see http://www.cleancarscampaign.org.

Last Updated 06/30/2009

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Summary: The state of California recently passed AB 118, a clean transportation program that includes funding for a voucher program targeted at medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The goal is to reduce the upfront incremental cost of purchasing a hybrid vehicle and vouchers are likely to range from $20,000 to $40,000 per vehicle depending on vehicle specifications. Vouchers will be paid directly to fleets that purchase hybrid trucks for use within the state.

Links:

For more information, please see: http://www.weststart.org/programs/htuf/hybriddialog/HTUF_Hybrid_Dialog_9-1_Final.pdf

Last Updated 06/30/2009

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