Clean Car Standards Go National

On April 1, 2010, the clean car standards to slash greenhouse gas emissions, improve vehicle fuel economy, and save consumers money at the pump (originally adopted by California in 2002, with Oregon and 11 other states following closely on California’s heels) finally went national with adoption of a federal clean cars rule by the U.S. EPA.

When the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission adopted the clean car standards in 2005-06, auto manufacturers were still in denial about the need to produce more fuel-efficient cars. In fact, Hummer sales peaked in the U.S. in 2006! The appetite for big cars was as big as it was going to get, but Oregon paid attention to the future. The Governor and Environmental Quality Commission understood that rising energy prices and environmental constraints meant we had to act to reduce Oregon’s dependence on oil, to meet the climate challenge, and to meet consumers’ changing demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles. It was the leadership of 13 states, including Oregon, that led the nation to a tipping point.

OEC is so pleased that Oregon was able to provide a platform for change at the federal level and is proud to have been part of the original effort. We served on the Governor’s Vehicle Emissions Workgroup, coordinated the Clean Cars for Oregon coalition, and joined the lawsuit against the Bush Administration’s denial of a waiver for clean car states to implement their standards.

OEC is also pleased to note than the U.S. and Oregon are experiencing economic opportunity through the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles. These economic opportunities are being realized not only through the production of electric cars, but also through the use of more mundane clean technology in regular gasoline vehicles, from compact sedans to SUVs.

This is a success story that we need to keep a close eye on. Some in Congress are trying to roll back EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases, which would block the federal clean car standards.

We need to preserve this state-to-federal success story – and also replicate it! As one example, Oregon is primed to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard, which will drive the market for lower-carbon fuels. One day, we’ll see a nationwide low-carbon fuel standard, hopefully sooner rather than later.