CARCIERI ANNOUNCES PLANS TO ADOPT NEW CALIFORNIA VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARDS

10-13-2005

Governor’s Initiative Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced proposed amendments to Rhode Island air pollution control regulations that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

Governor Carcieri said, "In announcing our intention to adopt California's greenhouse gas emission standards, we are affirming our commitment to improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gasses in the Ocean State.”

"When fully implemented," the Governor said, "these standards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by 30 percent, and do so while saving money for purchasers of new vehicles."

Auto manufacturers, the Governor noted, can meet the new requirements with existing technology, some of which is already being used on vehicles today. Standards will be phased in over the 2009 through 2016 model year period. The cost of new vehicles meeting the greenhouse gas standards is expected to increase approximately $1000 by 2016; however, that increase will be offset by reduced fuel costs with these more fuel-efficient vehicles. With gasoline at $3 per gallon, a vehicle owner can expect to save $245 per year during a five-year loan period.

The amendments, which would apply to new vehicles sold in Rhode Island beginning with model year 2009, would adopt new California exhaust emission standards relating to greenhouse gas emissions, and add medium-duty weight class vehicles.

The new emissions standards would limit the amount of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and certain air conditioning refrigerants emitted by the fleets of vehicles sold by auto manufacturers.

W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D., Director of DEM, said, "The transportation sector contributes almost 40 percent of Rhode Island's greenhouse gas emissions. There is a growing consensus that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are contributing to climate change. If this trend continues it could have severe impacts on human life and the environment."

In 2001, Rhode Island signed the Climate Change Action Plan adopted by the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. That plan set greenhouse gas reduction goals for the region as the following: reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, and reducing emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Rhode Island’s Greenhouse Gas Action Plan contains 52 options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The reductions that will take place by adopting the California greenhouse gas standards, in addition to the California LEV II regulations, adopted last year, will significantly contribute to meeting Rhode Island's targets. In addition to the LEV II regulations, which reduce hydrocarbon emissions, in 2004 the Governor also directed that renewable energy be used to power the State House for the next five years.

Today’s announcement is the latest element in Governor Carcieri’s drive to protect and preserve Rhode Island’s environment. He proposed – and voters approved in 2004 – $70 million environmental bond for watershed protection, drinking water protection, open space preservation, and recreation. Funds have been used to improve point-source facilities in Barrington, Burrillville, Cranston, East Greenwich, East Providence, Jamestown, Middletown, Warren, Warwick, West Warwick, Westerly, and Woonsocket. Results have been seen in a reduction of the number of beach day closures from 454 in 2004 to just 65 in 2005.

Just this summer, Governor Carcieri issued Executive Orders that require all new state vehicles be powered by alternative fuels or be hybrid electric vehicles and energy-efficiency measures for new or renovated state buildings.

The preservation of open spaces has ramped up, with 3,518 acres preserved since Governor Carcieri took office. Also under his watch, the state has invested $1 million in coastal habitat restoration that has helped to restore 280.3 acres of wetlands.

With today's announcement, Rhode Island joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, New York, and New Jersey in the process of adopting the California emissions standards. In Rhode Island, these standards are expected to be adopted by the end of the year.