Automakers Prepare To Sue CA Over GHG Emission Rules - LA Times

[hatrack]

Automobile manufacturers are preparing to sue California, perhaps as early as this week, in an attempt to derail a pioneering state law that seeks to force the companies to reduce tailpipe emissions of heat-trapping gases linked to global warming.

Representatives of two major automakers confirmed Monday that a coalition of companies has decided to file a lawsuit that would challenge the state's legal authority to force the reductions from carmakers.

One company official from a domestic automaker who had been briefed on the lawsuit described it as "imminent." However, a representative of a Japanese automaker cautioned that the suit may not be filed until January. Car companies and an automobile industry trade group repeatedly have argued that the California law — which requires a nearly 30% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from all passenger vehicles sold in the state by 2016 — sets a new fuel efficiency standard, which only the federal government has the power to do.

EDIT

The first regulation of its kind in the world, California's greenhouse gas rule is being closely watched around the globe. A number of states, including New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey, have indicated that they would like to adopt similar regulations. Canada also has discussed developing a similar standard modeled in part on the California requirement. As a result, auto industry experts said, the state rule could lead to major changes in cars sold throughout North America. The technology needed to reduce tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases already exists and is in use in many cars. State officials have cited innovations currently in use that can reduce exhaust, including continuously variable transmissions that shift to find the most efficient gear, engines that shut off cylinders when they are not needed and air-conditioning systems that use alternative coolants."

EDIT

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-warm7dec07,1,4329119.story?coll=la-news-politics-california