For those just getting to know me, I am a bit of a political junkie, a green eco-friendly environmental activist who has an interest in electric cars. That reality, my interests in things green has seen me write various articles on environmental issues. Below is one I wrote back in March when the US EPA turned down California's plans to have tighter emissions standards than the national standards. If you have been following the Presidential Elections this year, this article is a timely piece, and hopefully we can see some lively debate in the comments section below, or not. Either way, enjoy the read, and hopefully it will get you to think.The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) turned its back on California and the citizens of America when they formally denied California the right to control and regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from the states millions of vehicles. The US EPA finalized its rejection of the requested waiver, thus opening the door for Green Car Technologies to move to proverbial greener pastures, bringing their products (and technology) to market in countries with stronger policies that set far stricter standards for greenhouse-gas emissions.
California's waiver if granted would have seen the state reduce tail pipe emissions on every vehicle by 30 percent by the year 2016. Eighteen other states were standing in line to file for similar waivers once the state of California's waiver had been granted.The villain in this sad tale of caving in to the Auto Industry Titans is EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. Johnson had stated he would deny the waiver in December, which outraged almost everyone involved.
His announcement sparked another lawsuit from California, Congressional hearings and an angry letter from 19 union presidents representing more than 10,000 EPA employees who were in support of granting the waiver according to The Los Angeles Times. EPA staff members in recommending granting of the waiver had stated in a memo there was "no legal or technical justification" for the agency to deny it. One has to wonder, who bought off Stephen Johnson or his superiors? The document denying the waiver held firm in the false belief that global warming isn't local in nature or scope, and California's conditions aren't "compelling and extraordinary" enough to justify a waiver (see Associated Press story). No melting icebergs in your state, no waiver?
This kind of idiot Federal Agency decision made to protect Corporate interests rather than protect the environment are going to push green technology companies to abandon their financial goals and plans here in America for greener pastures, and in doing so leave America behind in the race for green technology. Despite a bill passed in December that raises fuel economy standards (in the year 2021), America is falling further and further behind other nations in leading the green charge to reduce Global Warming and build a world Green Economy.
The United States and our Green Entrepreneurs have the dreams and desires to lead the world in going green with no better example in the Green Car parade than Tesla and their Roadster. The company has three models now, and rumor has it they are in negotiations with the Big Detroit Automakers to quickly bring economy of scale to their designs. (Look for a public stock offering in Tesla in the next 18 months.)
Allowing California and other states their right to manage and regulate greenhouse gas emissions would be a huge step forward in mainstreaming companies such as Tesla. Conversely, the US EPA's decision could see Tesla and other companies bolt to Europe where stricter standards make marketing of their cars a more attractive option.
If America is going to lead the Green Wave, is going to be the Green Technology leader in the world, our politicians and Federal Agencies charged with protecting our environment need to change their ways. The world we leave our children depends on it.
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