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California's Efforts to Cut Emissions Slowed by Federal Government

California and other states want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new cars. But they've been delayed by the federal government. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us why.

California's Efforts to Cut Emissions Slowed by Federal Government

California and other states want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new cars. But they've been delayed by the federal government. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce tells us why.

California has been waiting two years to enforce tougher standards than the federal government has on emissions from new cars and light-duty trucks. Since that time, 11 other states have adopted California's tailpipe standards. But the states need a waiver under the Clean Air Act to move ahead. The state applied for the waiver from the EPA 18-months ago. Jason Barbose is with Environment California .

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Barbose: The states are trying to do the right thing and they're trying to put real solutions to work. In this case, the Bush Administration has been, in the very least, spinning its wheels on this issue. More likely it’s been throwing up deliberate roadblocks to prevent action on global warming.

Barbose says a new study shows the tougher rules would reduce global warming emissions by the equivalent of taking 74-million of today's cars off the road for an entire year. The EPA holds hearings Tuesday and next week on California's request to implement the tougher standards. Ed Joyce, KPBS News.