Rhode Island has more than a passing interest in ameliorating the impact of climate change. As the Ocean State, we would have a front row seat – until the front row is washed out to sea – as ocean levels climb and warmer sea water drastically alters the ecosystem that characterizes this extraordinary state.
So we should have a sense of emergency about limiting the greenhouse gas emissions that are heating up our world.
It is more than a little frustrating, therefore, to watch the federal government dally on approving the waivers that are needed for Rhode Island and 11 other states that want to adopt California’s tighter car emission standards.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 18-month delay has been caused, predictably, by pushback from car manufacturers and dealers. But the logic for approval is inescapable. Enactment of the standard would reduce emissions in the 12 states by 392 metric tons by 2020 – that’s equivalent to a year’s worth of emissions for 74 million of today’s cars.
The new standards also would cut gasoline consumption by 8.3 billion gallons per year, as much as is consumed by all the vehicles in Florida for a year. That would save consumers $25.8 billion at the pump annually. And cutting gasoline consumption has the added bonus of cutting oil imports, which makes the United States less vulnerable to the instability and disruptions in countries that supply our current addiction.
It is time for the state’s Congressional delegation, with a push from voters, to force the EPA on this issue to live up to its name – and protect our environment.