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"The federal government must work with, not against, states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Obama said in remarks this morning at the White House before signing the two directives. (See his comments in full here.) "California has shown bold and bipartisan leadership through its effort to forge 21st-century standards, and over a dozen states have followed its lead. But instead of serving as a partner, Washington stood in their way. This refusal to lead risks the creation of a confusing and patchwork set of standards that hurts the environment and the auto industry.
"The days of Washington dragging its heels are over. My administration will not deny facts; we will be guided by them. We cannot afford to pass the buck or push the burden onto the states. And that's why I'm directing the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately review the denial of the California waiver request and determine the best way forward."
The president also ordered the Department to the Department of Transportation to develop guidelines for the nation's auto fleet to reach average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, if not sooner, as had been mandated by Congress. A 2007 law, which had been on the books but not put into effect, calls for stepping up fuel economy on an annual basis starting with the 2011 model year. Obama's order set that requirement on track.
Although the president did not specifically order the EPA to reverse the agency's previous ruling, his directives were widely viewed as laying the groundwork for states to set tougher auto emissions regulations than those currently on federal books and as a prod to U.S. automakers for going into high gear on production of more fuel efficient cars.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other advocates of stricter emissions and climate change policy hailed Obama's moves today.
"With this announcement from President Obama less than a week into his administration, it is clear that California and the environment now have a strong ally in the White House," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Allowing California and other states to aggressively reduce their own harmful vehicle tailpipe emissions would be a historic win for clean air and for millions of Americans who want more fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly cars."
California has long sought to enforce regulations to cut GHG emissions from passenger vehicles 30 percent by 2016. The state first requested a waiver from the EPA in 2005 under the Clean Air Act in order to proceed with the program. The request was initially ignored, then denied by the EPA, even though 14 other states started their own drives to go forward with similar regulations. Last week, Schwarzenegger and California Air Board Resources Chief Mary Nichols moved swiftly in sending an appeal to President Obama. Their letters asking for reconsideration by the EPA reached Washington, D.C., the day after the chief executive's inauguration.
"The automobile industry fought this tooth and nail, but we never gave up," Schwarzenegger said this afternoon. (A video of his remarks is available here.)
