Obama Moves To Cap Automobile Emissions And Set Fuel-Efficiency Standards

Today is a day that will go down in history, as the day that President Barack Obama reversed former President Bush’s policies on emission control and approved an application by California, Washington and 12 other states to set strict automobile emissions and fuel-efficiency standards.  President Obama wants to cut emissions by 30% by the year 2020 and 80% by 2050.  He says he wants to get emissions back to what they were in 1990.

“Let me be clear: Our goal is not to further burden an already struggling industry,” Obama said about the automobile industry. “It is to help America’s automakers prepare for the future.”

He has also renewed his promise to invest 15 billion in finding an alternative energy. That investment will include solar, wind and nuclear power, as well as advanced coal technology. Obama had this to say . ‘‘I promise you this: When I am president, any governor who’s willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House.  Any company that’s willing to invest in clean energy will have an ally in Washington.  And any nation that’s willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America.’’  If he does keep his word this will be a victory for the world not just the USA, as emissions affect the world not just where the emissions emanate. 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger seemed to be very happy with the actions of his chief saying:  “Of course I am very, very happy,” Schwarzenegger said. “This is so important for our country, because we have been the biggest polluters in the world, and it is about time that we as a country recognize that and that we work together with other nations in order to fight global warming.”

Once these reversals of Bush’s policies take effect, automobile companies will have to retool to produce vehicles that will get at least 35 miles to the gallon. There are  a lot of vehicles that already meet that challenge, but if the USA wants to stay in the race, they need to think a little greener from now on.  The auto companies are complaining, saying that they will have to produce two different types of cars.  One type that meet the new regulations and another polluting type for the other states.  It is difficult to believe that they would actually still plan on making vehicles that pollute more in other states because they can get away with it. The U.S. company that makes saving money, gas and the environment its priority, will be the one that will still be here in the years to come.