Clean Car Standards on Their Way

A federal judge in Vermont ruled this week that states can adopt greenhouse gas pollution standards for automobiles.

The ruling is a huge step forward. Not only does it give Vermont authority to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from tailpipes, but it makes clear that other states, including California, have the rightful authority to keep check on tailpipe pollution, even when the federal government does not. With the Bush Administration refusing to do much of anything as far as reducing greenhouse gases, the ruling gives states an important tool in the fight to reverse climate change.

Coincidentally, Colorado itself is looking at adopting the same tailpipe standards as Vermont and other states have already done. In fact, a detailed presentation is set to be given to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission on this very issue next Thursday at 1:00. With the latest federal court ruling, it's pretty likely that Colorado is the next state in line to adopt tough clean car standards. We're talking the talk and it's only a matter of time before we walk the walk.

And speaking of talk...

The City of Loveland Water and Power Department is apparently pushing for a clean air specialty license plate in Colorado. The proposed plate would say "Clean Air Rocks."

The thing is the extra money would do nothing to clean up cars. Instead, it would go toward purchasing renewable energy credits to offset the pollution from cars.

We need renewable energy, but it shouldn't come at the expense of clean cars. Not only that, all the renewable energy in the world won't safeguard public health from air pollution spewed by traffic. One study just released found that jogging in traffic cuts blood flow to your heart.

We're not heartened by any effort to promote renewable energy that doesn't also promote clean cars. Any extra money from a clean air specialty plate should go directly toward reducing tailpipe pollution, not subsidizing dirty cars.