MOVING CLEAN CARS FORWARD—Mike Somers of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund testifies before EPA about the benefits of clean cars, and calls on the agency to allow states to implement clean cars programs.

Report: Clean Cars Benefit Public Health

New research by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund found that if Arizona adopted the Clean Cars Program, which establishes limits on pollution from automobiles, it would reduce pollution equivalent to taking 1.3 million of today’s cars off the road for an entire year.

According to a report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, new tailpipe standards, already adopted by 12 states, could reduce gasoline consumption by 8.3 billion gallons per year in 2020. The new standards could also save consumers up to $25.8 billion annually in 2020.

“Cars and SUVs are a massive source of pollution,” said Diane E. Brown, executive director of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund.

“By establishing the Clean Cars Program, we can reduce air pollution, protect public health, and save consumers money at the pump.” Twelve states have already adopted clean cars standards. Under the Clean Air Act, states with poor air quality can choose to adopt California’s more protective vehicle emission standards than the federal government mandates. However, the more protective standards require a waiver from EPA. EPA has yet to approve California’s request for a waiver, effectively blocking implementation of the clean cars program in California and other states.

Last year, Gov. Napolitano issued an executive order calling for Arizona to adopt and implement the Clean Cars Program. The rulemaking process has not yet begun.

In testimony before the EPA, Mike Somers of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund stated, “Arizona and other states that have adopted or are considering adopting the Clean Cars Program deserve the green light to establish limits on health-damaging pollution from automobiles.”