Are you or someone you know considering purchasing a new vehicle? If so, please read below – and forward freely.

California set the standard for the automotive industry to meet greenhouse gas reductions with the passage of AB 1493 by Assembly woman Fran Pavley.  California now once again is requesting the Environmental Protection Action to grant a waiver to allow this necessary law to take effect – a waiver that has been denied by the EPA under President Bush.

Sierra Club launched an online tool on its national website on March 5 to show that a wide variety of cars, trucks, and SUVs, from both foreign and domestic
automakers, already meet the standards California and more than a dozen
other states are seeking to implement nation-wide.  Each vehicle featured in the
virtual show currently meets the California standards.  Featured models
include:

Ø Chevy Cobalt—meets California standard through 2012

Ø Chrysler Town & Country minivan—meets California standard through 2014

Ø Ford Focus—meets California standard through 2011

Ø Honda Civic Hybrid—meets California standard through 2016

Ø Subaru Outback—meets California standard through 2016

Ø Chevy Silverado pickup—meets California standard through 2010

"This virtual clean car show demonstrates that automakers already have the
technology to reduce global warming emissions from our cars, trucks, and
SUVs," said Jesse Prentice-Dunn, Sierra Club Green Transportation Program
Associate Representative.  "Even some of the biggest trucks made by
American automakers already meet the standards for the current year and
beyond.  Implementing the California standards will not only help
revitalize Detroit by making it more competitive, but will also make us
more energy independent and fight global warming.

The virtual clean car show can be found at:
http://www.sierraclub.org/energy/cleancars/slideshow/

Other helpful links:

Check out the new labels that just went into effect January 2009!

Go to Drive Clean, California to see the cleanest, leanest vehicles!

Finally, learn the lingo!

California Vehicle Emissions Ratings

For a personal opinion from Air Quality Committee chair Irvin Dawid on “what else is necessary” to ensure that these cleaner vehicles are purchased, please read:

If We Build It, Will They Drive It?

With the recent drop in oil prices, will consumers buy greener cars instead of guzzling SUVs? Read article »