Community Environmental Council alternative energy guru Tam Hunt blasted the recent decision by Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson to deny California’s request to impose even tougher fuel economy standards on cars and trucks as morally, politically, and practically insupportable. But legally, he said, there might be some basis for it, however contrived and tenuous.
Johnson denied the request earlier this week, arguing that there was no need because revisions to the Clean Air Act, just signed by President George Bush, increased the mileage requirement on new cars for the first time since 1975. Under the new law, all automobiles on American roads must achieve an average mileage of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Under the state standards-adopted by the state legislature-all cars must get 36 miles an hour or more by 2016. And under the state approach, no averaging will be allowed; all cars must meet the standard.
Hunt said the EPA’s action was “ridiculous but predictable,” and estimated it will take at least two years before the matter can be heard and resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court. First it must get to the U.S., Court of Appeals in Washington D.C., which Hunt said a history of siding with government agencies. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to appeal the matter as have the governors of several other states.