California and fourteen other states won a decisive victory in federal court that paves the way for new rules limiting global warming pollution from automobiles. Vermont (VT) U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions rejected all of the manufacturers’ and dealers’ challenges to the state greenhouse gas emissions standards, ruling that auto manufacturers can meet new clean car standards adopted by California and fourteen other states.* The U.S. EPA still needs to grant California a waiver under the Clean Air Act to permit the standards to take effect.

“This ruling takes away the last excuse for delay — it’s time for EPA to clear the way for cleaner cars,” said Jim Tripp, General Counsel for Environmental Defense, who helped argue the VT case. “The U.S. auto industry should stop litigating and start innovating.”

The VT case (along with a similar case pending in CA) was brought by U.S. automakers arguing that the regulations are burdensome and cause undue economic harm to the industry while not addressing global warming.

Over the last decade, foreign automakers have seen profits jump as they bring more low-emissions vehicles to the market, while U.S. automakers have struggled financially.

Environmental Defense has filed a notice of intent to sue EPA if they do not rule on the California waiver request by November 2007. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has introduced legislation in Congress to require EPA to grant the waiver.

“Cleaner cars are the ultimate win-win-win: good for our economy, our environment and our overall health and well-being,” added Tripp.

* The fourteen other states include Vermont, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington.

(Ed.: Thank goodness U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions has cut through the car manufacturer’s lobby, which is probably what paralyzed Congress, to say to the car manufacturers that they need to get on board with saving the planet. By using the foreign car manufacturer’s as an example, our car manufacturers might even find out that their financial pictures will look better by doing the right thing and not dragging their feet. Remember: there won’t be any do-overs.)

About Environmental Defense:

Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

For more information, please visit their website: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/

Source for this post: Environmental Defense

Website: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/

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