Statement from Governor Martin O'Malley Following President Obama's Announcement of National Auto Emissions Standards
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 19, 2009) – Governor Martin O’Malley issued the following statement today following President Obama’s announcement of national auto emissions rules:
“For too long, the states have had to lead the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Today, our states have a new federal partner in our fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I applaud President Obama for his leadership on this issue and for working to establish national standards for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the transportation sector in our country.
“With this year's passage of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act, committing our state to reduce greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020, along with the our Administration’s actions to increase our use of renewable energy sources, reduce our individual energy consumption, and participate in the nation's first cap-and-trade program, Maryland is pleased to have a federal partner in our work toward a clean energy economy.”
Maryland's 2007 Clean Cars Act, which adopts California's emissions standards (along with 12 other states), will reduce vehicle emissions from new vehicles in Maryland as of model year 2011; greenhouse gas standards on these vehicles will be phased in from 2009-2016. When the Bush Administration rejected California's request for a waiver to regulate greenhouse gases through their own regulations, in December 2007 Maryland joined a lawsuit against the EPA to force the Agency to allow States their right to regulate vehicle emissions. The Obama Administration in January 2008 announced they would reconsider California's request for a waiver to have vehicle emissions standards different from the federal. Today's proposal from the Obama Administration would create one strong, federal standard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all 50 States beginning with the 2012 vehicle model year.
