EPA denies California plan to require 30 percent greenhouse gas reduction from cars by 2016; similar emission standards in 16 other states in peril as Feds say no to more emission reductions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has denied California’s request to require a 30 percent reduction, by 2016, in greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

16 other states (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington) have adopted the same emission standard a California, and the approval of California’s request would have provided a blanket approval for all 17 states.

The Clean Air Act requires states to apply for a waiver from the EPA before imposing higher greenhouse gas emission standards, but this is the first instance in more than 50 applications in which a state has been denied a waiver.

California attorney-general Edmund G. Brown Jr. told the Environmental News Service, “Governor Schwarzenegger and I are preparing to sue at the earliest possible moment.”

Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida joined the fray today, condemning the EPA’s decision. Crist said he will “consider taking them to court, too, and suing on behalf of Florida’s citizens.”

At a Florida climate change conference in July, Crist signed an executive order, based on the California standard, that would have forced automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016, with the cutbacks to begin in 2009 models.

The 17 states affected contain half the U.S. population, and California proponents said the new standards would have the same effect as taking 22-million vehicles off the roads.

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