Environmentalists, Douglas administration praise Obama's directive on car emissions

(Host) Environmentalists and the Douglas administration are praising President Obama's decision to allow Vermont and 13 other states to set tough new automobile emission standards.
VPR's John Dillon reports:

(Dillon) Several years ago, car makers took Vermont to court to overturn the state's clean car rules. A federal judge ruled in favor of the state, but the Bush administration blocked the new rules from taking effect.

Steve Hinchman is with the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental group that helped the state defend the rules.

(Hinchman) ``From a legal and scientific view, this is really a no-brainer. The EPA legal and technical staff unanimously recommended that the Bush EPA grant the waiver. This is merely President Obama keeping his campaign promise to restore the role of science and the rule of law.''

(Host) A spokeswoman for the Douglas administration said the Obama decision will eventually help Vermont reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Dennise Casey is the governor's deputy chief of staff.

(Casey) ``About 45 percent of Vermont's carbon emissions come from automobiles. And so Governor Douglas believes this is a very important tool for us as we work together to lower our carbon emissions.''

(Dillon) The Obama administration is also moving forward with new fuel economy standards for vehicles.

Dick Valentinetti directs the state's air pollution control division. He says the EPA will now have to go back and re-evaluate the state's request to set the new standards.

(Valentinetti) "So this will probably take three or four months to accomplish. But in the end we think that science and law will win, and that we'll be able to get cleaner cars with higher mileage in Vermont."

(Dillon) The automakers have appealed the Vermont ruling. That appeal is still pending. But environmentalists said the industry is developing vehicles that meet the clean air standards.

For VPR News, I'm John Dillon.