Auto Maker Are Going To Whine

The Obama administration is going to make the EPA reconsider a waiver for California to regulate emissions. The Bush administration did not care about the environment or the law.

"EPA believes that there are significant issues regarding the agency's denial of the waiver. The denial was a substantial departure from EPA's long-standing interpretation of the Clean Air Act's waiver provisions," the agency said.

Automakers are against California's plan to cut emissions by 30 percent by 2016 because it would result in a de facto increase in automobile fuel efficiency, which currently is set by the federal government.

Manufacturers prefer a single fuel efficiency regulation approved by Congress and administered by the Transportation Department that is based on vehicle criteria -- not emissions.

The current proposal under consideration by transportation planners seeks to raise average fuel efficiency of the fleet by 40 percent by 2020. The California law would exceed that mandate years sooner.

The article is a little sloppy it is California and 13 other states. Those states make up 37.7 % of US population. A few other states are thinking of joining California. Those states take it to over 50% of US population. The car companies should just bite the bullet and make all their cars compatible with California emissions.