California may drop CO2 waiver request if national standard implemented
California Air Resource Board chairwoman Mary Nichols told an EPA hearing last week that the state would consider withdrawing its request for a waiver allowing it to regulate carbon dioxide. Before that happens though a national standard needs to be put in place. If such a standard were established it would make automakers much happier . Currently, 13 other states have adopted the proposed California mandate. The problem is that the California rule establishes average CO 2 emissions requirements for an automaker’s entire fleet, much like CAFE does for fuel economy. With CAFE, the entire sales volume for an automaker is averaged across the country. If CO 2 is regulated at the state level, even though each state has the same standard, automakers have different sales mixes in different states. An average would have to be calculated for the sales in each state. In states more where a greater number of larger, heavier emitting vehicles are sold, automakers may have difficulty meeting the averages while sales in other states where more smaller cars are sold could not be used to offset those. However, establishing a national standard that California and other states would agree to won’t be easy. The current California mandate would essentially require 44 mpg by 2016, a number that would be difficult to achieve unless fuel prices are also substantially higher than they are now. [Source: Detroit News ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy California may drop CO 2 waiver request if national standard implemented originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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California may drop CO2 waiver request if national standard implemented
Massachusetts considering raising fuel tax
In the next 20 years, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will need to fund a $15 to $19 million gap to maintain its transit system. Since there’s no such a thing as a free lunch, Governor Deval Patrick (D) is currently suggesting an increase in the fuel tax of $0.19 per gallon to raise the money. This would means that the total tax paid on gasoline in the state will be $0.609 per gallon, while the tax on diesel would be $0.669 per gallon. End result: a rollback on a proposed Massachusetts Turnpike toll increase, no fare increase on the Boston public transit system (among other benefits) and making Massachusetts the state with one with the highest gasoline taxes in the U.S. and the fourth highest tax on diesel (right behind Hawaii, New York and Connecticut). Gov. Patrick has also proposed to move registration fees upward for large, gas-guzzling vehicles with the so-called “Hummer Tax.” [Source: Green Car Congress ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , USA Massachusetts considering raising fuel tax originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Massachusetts considering raising fuel tax
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Leave a commentMassachusetts Governor Deval Patrick considers "Hummer Tax"
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (D) is said to be considering adjusting registration fees skyward for large, gas-guzzling vehicles while discounting the same for fuel-saving models. The controversial legislation has earned the nickname “Hummer Tax” since it is rather obviously geared towards large SUVs like those sold by GM’s struggling HUMMER division. Opponents to the plan warn that the charges could have a disproportionately large impact on large families and small business owners that rely on large vehicles to perform their daily routines. On the other hand, proponents for the legislation highlight the fact that it’s technology neutral, meaning that any vehicle that manages to save fuel over its competitors would qualify for the savings, regardless of what kind of fuel or technology is being used. There are also movements within the current Massachusetts administration that hope to raise the state’s gas tax or increase the price of tolls. One problem with a gas tax increase is that the move towards more fuel efficient vehicles would lower the amount of income the state is taking in, so an alternative plan would tax drivers based on mileage driven. [Source: The Boston Globe ] Auto Blog: HUMMER , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick considers “Hummer Tax” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick considers "Hummer Tax"
Verenium to build its first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant
Auto Blog: Ethanol Verenium Corporation has been awarded a $7 million grant from the state of Florida and it will use the money to build its first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. The money comes through the state’s Farm to Fuel initiative, something sure to enrage ethanol opponents. The plant, to be constructed beginning later this year in Highlands County, Florida, is expected to start generating fuel in 2011. When fully up to speed the facility will employ 140 people and produce 36 million gallons of ethanol annually. The total cost of the refinery is expected to be $250-300 million. Verenium’s enzyme-based process for breaking down cellulose into sugar for fermentation will use grasses as the main stock at the Florida facility. [Source: Verenium ] Verenium to build its first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Verenium to build its first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant
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