Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
Walsh bill calls for emissions disclosure
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Auto industry’s reaction lukewarm
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State lawmakers are considering legislation that would require automobile manufacturers to provide consumers with a “global warming index” on all new cars sold in Rhode Island.
Introduced by Rep. Donna M. Walsh, D-Charlestown, the bill would require that a sticker detailing the projected emissions of several gases — including carbon dioxide — be placed on vehicles in order to be sold. The sticker would be required for all non-commercial passenger vehicles, including light-duty trucks with a gross weight of 8,500 pounds or less, manufactured for model year 2010 and beyond.
It would include an index that compares a vehicle’s emissions of global warming gases with the average projected emissions of all vehicles of the same model year. “Global warming gases” are defined as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.
The bill (H-7523), which is scheduled to be heard by the House of Representatives today, is co-sponsored by Rep. Peter D. Lewiss (D- Westerly).
“By providing user-friendly information to consumers regarding the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality and climate change, this act would encourage consumer awareness about greenhouse gas emissions and help Rhode Islanders shop for vehicles with the environment in mind,” Walsh said in a prepared statement.
Information on vehicle emissions, however, is already available on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site, according to Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade association and lobbying group that represents companies such as Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
“Several resources are already available where consumers can find information about greenhouse gases,” he said. “It’s also true that consumers are already moving toward vehicles that emit less carbon dioxide by purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles. There is a direct correlation between vehicles’ fuel economy and the amount of carbon dioxide it produces.”
Territo said several states, including Connecticut, have adopted greenhouse gas emissions standards set by the state of California, but have held off on implementing them pending approval of an EPA waiver. The alliance filed suit against the California Air Resources Board in 2004, arguing that new emissions standards can only be set by the federal government.
“Rhode Island has adopted California’s standards for greenhouse gas [emissions], but California has not yet received authority to implement those standards,” Territo said. “Several states that adopted the standard have these regulations on hold pending the outcome of the waiver decision.
Territo said the cost of adhering a global warming index sticker to new cars could be “significant” in a market as small as Rhode Island, while converting grams-per-mile of carbon dioxide to miles-per-gallon is a “complicated equation,” he said.
“There are also concerns about the amount of information added to a Munroni label,” Territo said, referring to the informational window sticker on all new cars. “We want to make sure we don’t overload it with too much information.”
ckeegan@thewesterlysun.com
Introduced by Rep. Donna M. Walsh, D-Charlestown, the bill would require that a sticker detailing the projected emissions of several gases — including carbon dioxide — be placed on vehicles in order to be sold. The sticker would be required for all non-commercial passenger vehicles, including light-duty trucks with a gross weight of 8,500 pounds or less, manufactured for model year 2010 and beyond.
It would include an index that compares a vehicle’s emissions of global warming gases with the average projected emissions of all vehicles of the same model year. “Global warming gases” are defined as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.
The bill (H-7523), which is scheduled to be heard by the House of Representatives today, is co-sponsored by Rep. Peter D. Lewiss (D- Westerly).
“By providing user-friendly information to consumers regarding the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality and climate change, this act would encourage consumer awareness about greenhouse gas emissions and help Rhode Islanders shop for vehicles with the environment in mind,” Walsh said in a prepared statement.
Information on vehicle emissions, however, is already available on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site, according to Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade association and lobbying group that represents companies such as Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
“Several resources are already available where consumers can find information about greenhouse gases,” he said. “It’s also true that consumers are already moving toward vehicles that emit less carbon dioxide by purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles. There is a direct correlation between vehicles’ fuel economy and the amount of carbon dioxide it produces.”
Territo said several states, including Connecticut, have adopted greenhouse gas emissions standards set by the state of California, but have held off on implementing them pending approval of an EPA waiver. The alliance filed suit against the California Air Resources Board in 2004, arguing that new emissions standards can only be set by the federal government.
“Rhode Island has adopted California’s standards for greenhouse gas [emissions], but California has not yet received authority to implement those standards,” Territo said. “Several states that adopted the standard have these regulations on hold pending the outcome of the waiver decision.
Territo said the cost of adhering a global warming index sticker to new cars could be “significant” in a market as small as Rhode Island, while converting grams-per-mile of carbon dioxide to miles-per-gallon is a “complicated equation,” he said.
“There are also concerns about the amount of information added to a Munroni label,” Territo said, referring to the informational window sticker on all new cars. “We want to make sure we don’t overload it with too much information.”
ckeegan@thewesterlysun.com
Cindy wrote on May 28, 2008 1:06 PM:
" Right on John! I agree with you 100% It's mainly those 18 wheelers and diesel trucks, buses etc. that expell most of the gases. "
John wrote on May 22, 2008 11:34 AM:
" Why is it only the passenger cars? Seems to me that most of the emission issues today stem from unregulated commercial vehicles. If you are stuck behind one of those large dump trucks or school buses, or any vehicle using diesel fuel, you are choking on their fumes. Often those large trucks are spewing black smoke into the air. How about regulating them tighter. What gives? "
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