EPA looking into regulating CO2 for the first time ever; national auto emissions standard coming?

Posted by in Auto Green on 02 23rd, 2009 | no responses

More potential changes in the way the EPA does business. Following the decision to re-open the states’ rights question on limiting carbon emissions and the California waiver issue , President Obama said yesterday that the EPA could soon take on CO 2 more broadly. The EPA could decide by early April whether or not carbon dioxide is a pollutant and a danger to the public, CNN says. If the EPA does so, then greenhouse gas emission regulations would kick in and would, in the words of the New York Times , “set off one of the most extensive regulatory rule makings in history.” The EPA is currently looking into how regulations might prevent endangerment to public health, and automobile manufacturers would obviously fall under any new CO 2 regulations. From the hints available in the media, it looks like the administration would prefer Congress to put together a cap-and-trade system that would affect pretty much all economic sectors, not just the dirty few. Buried at the end of the CNN piece is this: “the administration had directed the EPA and the Department of Transportation to develop a national policy for auto emissions.” Details are hazy, but it looks like the California standards (or a slightly changed version) could be the basis for a national standard. Carol Browner , President Obama’s special adviser on climate change and energy (the “climate czar”), said yesterday that, “We need a unified national policy when it comes to clean vehicles.” Well, that’s news. [Source: New York Times via Treehugger , CNN ] Photo by Clinton Steeds . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA EPA looking into regulating CO 2 for the first time ever; national auto emissions standard coming? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green