Auto industry sues to try and stop more states from adopting California emissions rules

[Doondoo]

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- A suit by the auto industry to keep the newest California emission standards from spreading eastward is slated for trial later this month in U.S. District Court. Vermont and other northeastern states plan to impose car emission standards that seek to limit the amount of carbon dioxide escaping from vehicle tailpipes. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas blamed for global climate change.

The standards are slated to take effect in 2008, and would require a progressive lowering of carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles through 2015. The suit could turn on a question: are efforts to limit carbon emissions from vehicles a matter of regulating emissions, or a matter of setting new fuel efficiency standards?

The suit by a national group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and three Vermont auto dealerships argues that the only way to reduce carbon emissions is to increase fuel efficiency and mileage. The suit maintains that federal law allows states to regulate emissions but leaves fuel efficiency subject only to federal - and not to state - regulation.



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