Environment Florida Looks to Legislature to Ratify Rule Curbing Global Warming
TALLAHASSEE – Environment Florida applauds the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission for taking strong action to stop global warming by voting to adopt the California Motor Vehicle Emissions Standard in Florida.
This decision will bring the Clean Cars Program, a critical part of Governor Crist’s Executive Orders to curb global warming emissions, before the Florida Legislature for a final vote on ratification in the upcoming legislative session.
“Today is a day of promise for Florida’s environment and consumers,” said Adam Rivera, Environment Florida’s Advocate. “Now it’s up to the Florida House and Senate to deliver for Florida and help us grow a clean energy economy while avoiding global warming’s worst impacts.”
Florida would become the 15th state to adopt the Clean Cars Program, which will require automakers to reduce the average amount of global warming pollution from new cars by 34 percent and from light trucks by 25 percent.
If adopted, 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 in that time frame is equivalent to taking 13.8 million cars off the road for a year.
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.
“Bringing the Clean Cars Program to Florida not only helps us solve global warming, but also saves consumers money at the pump. But the rubber has to hit the road in the Legislature in March to make Clean Cars a reality.”
For more information:
Adam Rivera, 850-224-5944
