EPA denying stricter CO2 limits
California and 14 other states want tighter limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars. But the EPA says it will deny the bid for stricter regulations. John Dimsdale reports it could have to do pressure from the auto industry.
Exhaust rises from the main chimneys of a coal-fired power plant. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)
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Lisa Napoli: Today the EPA is expected to formally do what it said it would late last year: Reject bids from California and 14 other states to impose stricter limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars. Some in Congress accuse the EPA of caving in to the auto industry. Marketplace's D.C. bureau chief John Dimsdale reports.
John Dimsdale: The 15 states want limits carbon dioxide car pollution limits that are tighter than the federal government's.
The EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson says he'll deny the request -- and California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer says she knows why:
Barbara Boxer: We've gotten enough documents to know that there wasn't anyone telling Mr. Johnson to deny this waiver except the automobile companies and some political people.
The auto industry is against granting states the right to crack down on CO2 pollution.
Charles Territo is with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers:
Charles Territo: Inconsistent and competing fuel economy programs at the state level will only create confusion, inefficiency and uncertainty for both automakers and consumers.
He says a federal standard is far more preferable. But Senator Boxer has introduced legislation to force the federal government to allow tighter state pollution laws.
In Washington, I'm John Dimsdale for Marketplace.
