When the U.S. EPA denied California the right to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from vehicles, the agency reasoned that the just-passed energy bill’s boost to national fuel-economy standards would be stronger emissions-reduction policy than the state’s plan. California, which has sued, would beg to differ, and has released statistics refuting the EPA’s claim. For example: The new federal law will cut greenhouse-gas emissions in California by 8 million tons by 2016; if California’s plan was allowed to go forward, emissions would be reduced 17 million tons in the same time period. If 12 other states adopted California’s law (as 12 other states have said they would do), GHG reduction in those states would be 59 million tons by 2020. Under the federal law, the reduction would be only 37 million tons by 2020. The EPA will at some point release its own stats, which are likely to reach somewhat different conclusions.
