On April 1, the government took a major step toward combating global warming by setting the first limitations in the United States on greenhouse gas auto emissions.
These limitations are a major aspect of President Barack Obama’s plan to have a 17-percent emissions reduction from the 2005 levels by 2010.
The policy, which was developed by the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, sets new emission and mileage standards. The gas caps will raise the standards for new automobiles to 35.5 miles per gallon and cut emissions from cars by 21 percent.
“We’ve developed a clean cars program that is a win for automakers and drivers, a win for innovators and entrepreneurs and a win for our planet,” said Lisa Jackson, the EPA administrator, in an April 1 press release.
The estimated cost of compliance for the automobile industry is $52 billion over the five years of the program, but would result in savings of $240 billion for consumers, Jackson said. The $52 billion would add around $950 to the average cost of a new car while the benefits would include fuel savings, pollution reduction and reduced oil imports.
Although cars are expected to be more expensive, around $3,000 in fuel would be saved over the life of the car, according to EPA estimates.
Emissions have risen significantly since the “90s. From 1990 to 2008, the total emissions in the U.S. have gone up by 14 percent despite advancements in technology, according to an EPA report titled “Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”
The report said that during those years, transportation emissions increased by 22 percent, which directly relates to the fact that vehicles drove more over the same time period.
According to the report, passenger cars and light-duty trucks traveled 37 percent more miles from 1990 to 2008.
Students at Boston University applauded the efforts taken by Obama’s administration to reduce emissions.
“I’m usually [for] anything pro-environmental, preferably though if it doesn’t hurt the automobile industry,” said Colleg of Communication senior Wehr said.
Josh Lue Yen, a College of Arts and Sciences freshman, said he believes that the new policy has many positive benefits.
“The air will be cleaner, cars will be more efficient,” Yen said. “While I am from Jamaica, I care what is going on here because I attend school here and I want to see the U.S. prosper. These new laws will help.”
In a press release, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood discussed the benefits of the new rules.
“These historic new standards set ambitious, but achievable, fuel economy requirements for the automotive industry that will also encourage new and emerging technologies,” LaHood said. “We will be helping American motorists save money at the pump, while putting less pollution in the air.”
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
