In your Feb. 25 editorial “Let incentives clear the air rather than mandates,” you said we should reduce air pollution, including pollutants that cause global warming, and improve fuel economy in our cars. We agree. But you said the proposed clean car legislation would do neither. We disagree.
New cars under the clean car standards will reduce pollution and save the average driver $18 per month in fuel costs. Statewide, that amounts to more than $2 billion by 2020 in fuel costs – dollars that will go into our economy. By reducing fuel use, we also reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
The fuel savings will be more than two and a half times any increase in new car prices. The standards increase consumer choice by providing cleaner models already available in California and seven other states. These cleaner models also have 15-year, 150,000-mile emission warranties.
The new standards won’t create new bureaucracy. It took New York state only three additional staff to implement the rules there. In fact, this bill eliminates bureaucracy by phasing out tailpipe emission tests.
Finally, you said diesel buses and trucks, the worst polluters, are not included in the standards. This is for good reason. Through our nationally recognized diesel solutions program, we’ve worked with public agencies, school districts and others to voluntarily clean up diesel vehicles in advance of new federal requirements for cleaner diesel engines and fuels, which begin in 2006. Our Snohomish County partners include Community Transit, Everett Transit, 15 school districts and Boeing. The clean car legislation will reduce pollution, provide tremendous fuel savings for consumers, and put that money back into our regional economy. Supporting this legislation is the right thing to do.
Dennis J. McLerran
Executive Director
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
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