Posted on 11/27/2007 3:32:25 PM PST by Graybeard58
PHOENIX -- State environmental officials took the first steps Monday to banning the sale of vehicles that don't meet standards for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The state Department of Environmental Quality started crafting a rule to adopt the same vehicle emission standards approved by the California Air Resources Board. That state has directed that all manufacturers reduce greenhouse gas emissions of their vehicles by an average of 30 percent by 2016.
DEQ Director Steve Owens said he is looking at something a little less aggressive, perhaps phasing in the new emission standards beginning in 2011 and not hitting that 30 percent standard until 2018 or later.
But he said the plan is to adopt that standard -- and nothing less.
That would not necessarily ban the sale of any specific type of vehicle: Owens said auto makers could comply by making every vehicle in their model line sold in Arizona more environmental friendly.
But if they are unable to unwilling to do that, he said they would have to stop -- or at least limit -- the sale of vehicles which emit the most carbon dioxide to ensure that, on an overall basis, what they do sell overall in Arizona meets that 30 percent threshold.
Owens said the rule, ordered by Gov. Janet Napolitano, is designed to prevent the state from having greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 which are 2.4 times as high as they were in 1990. The emissions, 40 percent of which come from vehicle tailpipes, already are up nearly 60 percent from 1990.
The DEQ director said the first step in enacting a new rule is to meet with "stakeholders" who have an interest in the issue, including auto manufacturers and dealers. There also would be public hearings.
He said, though, the intent is to pursue that 30 percent reduction, regardless of comments.
The reason, he said, is legal: U.S. law allows states to adopt either the federal emission standards or those approved by California. Owens said Arizona cannot decide on its own to adopt something in between.
What it also cannot do, he said, is ban certain vehicles which emit the most carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which scientists have linked to warming temperatures on the planet. Instead, auto makers will have flexibility.
For example, he said a manufacturer could meet that 30 percent overall reduction by selling more of its more lower emissions vehicles and fewer of the ones that emit the most carbon dioxide.
In fact, he said, if a company makes only one type of vehicle, it could comply by simply limiting its Arizona sales to 70 percent of what it is currently selling, a move that could increase consumer demand for those vehicles.
The California Air Resources Board is predicting the rules will make vehicles, on average, more expensive.
That's because unlike some pollutants, carbon dioxide cannot be filtered out of tailpipe emissions through things like catalytic converters. Instead, vehicles have to be made to more fuel efficient: Greater miles per gallon equals less greenhouse gases.
CARB's own studies state that making the necessary technical changes in how vehicles are built would increase the cost of vehicles $277 and $369 by 2011; full implementation by 2016 would raise costs by more than $1,000.
But that CARB study says the trade-off -- aside from lower carbon dioxide emissions -- would be a reduction in vehicle operating costs.
One thing that could derail the process is that California has yet to get the required approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement carbon dioxide standards. California filed suit earlier this month to force the federal agency to act; Arizona joined in that lawsuit.
Owens said he is confident his agency has the legal power to enact the rule without specific legislative permission.
"If people disagree with us, they won't hesitate to bring a lawsuit," he said. "We would be confident our authority would hold up in Arizona."
Owens said 11 states already have adopted California's standards -- also contingent on that state getting the required EPA waiver -- and four other states have announced plans to follow suit.
Here we go...
The auto manufacturers are going to love this-more profit on fewer cars.
Booze ON a gas-guzzler? We can't have that!
The final death sentence for the US Auto Industry. Average cost now is 20K, increase it by 30% to 26K and 28K and watch the fun begin. It will be cheaper just to keep the existing car running longer. New paint job, stereo, detail the inside, and it will be worth the 5k.
Just waiting for these moonbats to disallow the re-registration of existing cars that cannot pass the emissions standards.
Registration will be easy for older cars, just pay the TAX. An increased tax will be the way old ‘nasty’ cars will be removed from the road.
Europe 1930’s comes to mind...
Think some parts of Texas are headed toward offering a high price for older vehicles and junking them in order to prevent gas from being guzzled & emissions from being emitted.
Solution to Reduce Emissions
Gov. Janet Napolitano wants us to cut the emissions
..... The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport all the illegal immigrants!
That would be 60 to 40 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down.....
Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the Border....
When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq ...
Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military.....
Give him a soldier’s pay while he’s there and tax him on it.....
After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country......
He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal
patriot......
This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves......
If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo.....
Problem
solved.....
We gotta move Kalifornia away or move away from Kalifornia. Too much of their idiocy is leaking across the border. Maybe we need a fence!
Neither the USA or Imperial Rome is well served by a standing army of foreigners who are not imbued with the historical traditions and values of the republic that has armed, supplied and trained them.
Nothing good at all can come of it and it will not work.
Note that this is not about dirty, polluting vehicles. It is about vehicles that emit a clean, clear gas that trees need to inhale to survive.
I wonder what kind of CO2 emission standards they'll come up with for USED cars?!
You folks in Arizona better get your act together an flush those Dims.
It is called e-check, it already exists.
Vehicle emissions testing is federally mandated in the Cleveland/Akron metropolitan area, including Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties.
The E-Check program will remain essentially the same. E-Check will be required every other year for vehicles with model years between 1982-2002 in 2006. Even-model-year vehicles must be inspected in even years, and odd-year models will be inspected in odd years. Vehicles five years old and older must also be tested upon change of title. All current waivers, exemptions and extensions will remain the same.
What’s to prevent an Arizonian from purchasing their vehicle in a neighboring state? I mean, if the “SUV quota” is exhausted in AZ, meh, go to NM or wherever, right? Wouldn’t they simply be trashing the AZ care sales industry?
We already have emissions testing here in Arizona... Phoenix at least and I believe Tucson. Not just for cars 82 and newer either, the only ones exempt here have to be older than 1967. My ‘77 truck has to be tested every year and because it was originally a Kalifornia truck, I have to maintain Kalifornia emission standards. Complete BS if you ask me, I adjust it to pass, then turn it right back to where it runs right... Funny thing is when it is adjusted to pass, I get 3 or 4 miles per gallon less than when it is adjusted to run right. It is nothing more than another fee for the state to collect!
A guy I work with just bought a brand new VW Toureg V-10 TDI (Turbo Diesel) with plans to put 7500 miles on it (or maybe a few extra...) and turn around and sell it to somebody in Kalifornia for the same price or possibly even more than he bought it for. It can not be sold in Kalifornia as a new vehicle but can be brought in as a used vehicle after it has 7500 miles on it.
They are very high demand vehicles because very few are imported. He could not find one here and bought it in Texas and had it shipped out here. He said he averaged 28mpg on his first tank, pretty descent for a vehicle with over 500 horsepower.
ROTFLMAO
I remember when Feenix was in Arizona. Guess it is in Kaliflower now.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Edmunds begs to differ with your buddy.
They show the '08 V10 TDI at $68K, 310 HP, and 15/20 mpg.
That's a far cry from 28mpg with over 500HP.
It is, however, pretty neat for a SUV, but at $68K it oughta be.
Dude where have you been, I had a car 15 years ago that I couldnt get registered due to a 'tampered' emmissions system.
Even though there were ZERO staions that sold leaded gas [with the much larger nozzle ], the filler neck had to be replaced because the opening was 'too big' for the 'unleaded sized' sample rod that they tested it with.
after replacing the neck twice [the first one, although not 'punched out' was still worn unnacceptably big ] I finally got 'legal' with a filler neck that was bent internally and pouring raw gas vapor into the car. I damn near passed out on the way home from the test with the windows down in march. needless to say I had to put the old neck back in after the test...
like I said that was 15 years ago and only one of many headaches trying to get my permission slip to go to the dmv over the years. How many carburetors have I adjusted to pass and reset afterwards for customers ? I'll never know or care...
nope, used to be able to dump a certain amount of $$$ in repairs for a waiver, then the amount of waivers was reduced, then not allowed at all. comply or park it was the end result...
Carolyn
Whoops my bad... Maybe it was over 500 ft lbs of torque then... I was reading those specs the same day I read them on my sisters new Ferrari 612 Scaglietti I think that is what had over 500 hp in a roughly 4000# car...
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