Submission + - EPA Stops States from Cutting Auto Emissions (nytimes.com) 1
ahecht writes: In response to the energy bill signed into law by President Bush on Wednesday, the EPA has denied California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and 13 other states from setting their own stricter emissions requirements. While the Bush bill requires auto makers to meet 35mpg by 2020, the new California law would have required 43mpg for cars (and 27mpg for trucks and SUVs) by 2016. California has long been a leader in driving the automobile industry to improve mileage and emissions, and this was the first time they were refused permission to impose their own pollution rules. The decision, according to industry analysts cited in the article, appears to be a reward to the auto industry for dropping opposition to Bush's new energy bill.