TALLAHASSEE – Environment Florida applauded the Obama Administration for moving quickly to confront global warming. The Obama Administration directed the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider its decision to block states from implementing the Clean Cars Program.
“This decision paves the way for the Legislature to bring Clean Cars to Florida this spring,” said Adam Rivera, Environment Florida Advocate. “There’s no excuse not to take action that will save money for Florida drivers and help protect us from global warming’s worst impacts.”
In June 2007, Governor Charlie Crist directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to implement the Clean Cars program, which, if approved by the Florida Legislature, would make Florida the fifteenth state to adopt these emissions-cutting, cost-saving standards.
The Clean Cars Program will result in a cumulative emissions reduction of 54.4 million metric tons in Florida between 2010 and 2020. The reduction in global warming emissions that Florida will achieve due to the Clean Cars program is equivalent to taking 13.8 million cars off the road for a year.
An Environment Florida analysis on the benefits of the Clean Cars Program shows that, under the program, Florida consumers will reduce their gas usage by 1.6 billion gallons, which would save them $4.4 billion in the year 2020, at 2007 price levels.
“Now the spotlight is on the Florida House and Senate. Our leaders should not delay in bringing Clean Cars to Florida,” said Rivera.
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Environment Florida is a statewide, citizen-based advocacy group. For more information on Cleaner Cars for Florida, visit: http://www.environmentflorida.org/issues/global-warming/cleaner-cars-for-florida
