Maryland Senator Brian Frosh and Delegate Elizabeth
Bobo have filed the much-anticipated “Clean Cars Act,” a bill to reduce pollution
from car emissions. Legislators anticipate committee hearings on both versions
of the bill in the next two weeks.
“The
Clean Cars Act has multiple benefits, Sen. Frosh explained. “It will improve the health of Marylanders;
it will reduce nitrogen pollution of the bay; and it will be a major
step in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We need to pass it now.”
Co-sponsors in the Senate are Senators Britt,
Brochin, Conway, Garagiola, Gladden, Jones, Kelley, Lenett, Madaleno,
Muse, Peters, Pipkin, Pugh, Raskin, Rosapepe, and Zirkin. Co-Sponsors
in the
House are: Barve, Ali, Anderson, Barnes, Beidle, Bronrott, Cane, V.
Clagett, Feldman,
Frush, Gilchrist, Glenn, Gutierrez, Guzzone, Healey, Hixson, Holmes,
Hubbard,
Hucker, Kaiser, Kullen, Lafferty, Lawton, Lee, Love, Malone, Manno,
McIntosh, Mizeur, Montgomery, Morhaim, Niemann, Pena-Melnyk,
Pendergrass, Rice, Rosenberg, Ross, Simmons, Stein, Taylor, F. Turner,
and Waldstreicher.
Advocates note House co-sponsors include fourteen
Delegates in the House Environmental Matters Committee, a majority of that
Committee.
“We’ve waited far too long to adopt the program that
eleven other states have already acted on,” said Del. Bobo.
The Clean Cars Act is a
state-based policy that would address global warming pollution while also
reducing pollution that causes cancer, smog, and the dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay. The bill:
- Strengthens the standards for emissions that form
smog and other health-damaging pollution.
- Adds carbon dioxide—the main cause of global
warming—to the list of pollutants that are covered by vehicle emission
standards.
- Requires that a percentage of new cars sold each
year are advanced technology vehicles such as hybrids.
A coalition of environmental, health, and faith-based organizations,
which worked together to pass last year’s Healthy Air Act, applauded the early
bill filing and strong public support as a promising sign.
“The bill has crossed its first milestone with lots of
support,” said Brad Heavner of Environment Maryland. “This should be the year
our legislators take real action to reduce pollution from cars. The Clean Cars
Act would help to combat global warming, clean up the Chesapeake Bay, and improve the health of all Marylanders.”
Eleven other states have already adopted the Clean
Cars Program. Carmakers are currently
gearing up to meet the stricter standards in 30 percent of the new car market. This bill would require them to put advanced
technology components in the cars they ship to Maryland as well.
Cindy Schwartz, Executive Director of the Maryland
League of Conservation Voters, said the Clean Cars Act is a top priority this
legislative session for her organization and the environmental community.
“In November, voters came out in full force to elect a
conservation majority in Maryland. With true leaders in the legislature like Senator
Frosh, Delegate Bobo, and our host of co-sponsors -- as well as a new Governor
-- it seems the pieces are falling into place for Maryland to join with other states to fight global warming.”
