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January 24, 2008

U.S. Senate to consider vehicle emissions laws

The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is meeting to discuss the federal government’s decision not to allow the state of California to set its own vehicle emissions standards, which more than a dozen states across the country – including Rhode Island -- had intended to adapt.

See a live Webcast of the proceedings online at C-SPAN, (you must have the Real Play installed to view).

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is a member of the committee.

The federal Clean Air Act gives California the option to enact its own pollution standards for cars. Since 2002, the state has been developing standards that limit the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In 2005, California officially adopted standards that were intended to curb greenhouse has emissions by 30 percent by 2016. That same year, Rhode Island adopted the regulations.

In December, the Environmental Protection Agency denied California's request for the waiver it needed before the new standards could go into effect.

Earlier this month, Rhode Island and 15 other states joined a lawsuit against the EPA filed by the state of California.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 10:28 AM | Permalink

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