policy and wrong in its process and this move by President Obama is a breath of fresh air on both counts.”

California’s standards, established by AB 1493 (Pavley) in 2002, would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles 30% by 2016. The Bush Administration’s denial of the waiver required for California to do this was the state’s first denial since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1967. 

13 other states have adopted, and three states are currently considering, the California standards. With the transportation sector accounting for 40% of California's greenhouse gases, these standards are considered critical for California to fully achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels required by AB 32.  The regulations to be reconsidered by the EPA would achieve about 17% of the AB 32 reductions. The California standards are workable with technology already in the market and will save vehicle owners money in lower maintenance and operating costs over the lifetimes of the vehicles. The standards give automakers flexibility to apply any technology they choose to reduce vehicles' emissions of greenhouse gases, including production of vehicles that use lower carbon fuels.

“Once the EPA grants this waiver, as it should, California can move forward with our efforts to encourage environmental entrepreneurship and develop new technologies that will help stimulate the economy with badly-needed good-paying green jobs,” Bass said. “Add that to the clean, breathable air every Californian wants and needs and this has the potential to be a win-win situation all the way around.”