Gov. Gregoire signs 'clean cars' bill requiring strict auto exhaust emission standards

For Immediate Release: May 6, 2005

KIRKLAND � May 6, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today signed legislation designed to produce cleaner air and reduce gasoline use by requiring that future new cars and light trucks sold in Washington state meet strict auto exhaust emission standards.

�The Clean Car Act is the most important environmental legislation so far this decade,� Gregoire said. �Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in our state. With this legislation, we are taking a significant step in reducing pollution. And we will gain the added benefit of promoting fuel efficient vehicles that save money for consumers at the gas pump.�

�We are pleased to join with the other West Coast states in taking this action because it symbolizes our joint commitment to reduce the pollutants that are contributing to global warming,� she said.

The new law adopts the state of California�s motor vehicle emission standards. California's current low emission vehicle standards require that new cars sold there reduce nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons beyond federal standards. Eight other states have adopted the California standard and the state of Oregon is in the process of adopting similar standards.

The new standards would apply to Washington vehicles no sooner than the 2009 new-car models. The actual timing will depend on when the Oregon adopts the standards.

Gregoire said the new standards will provide significant air-quality benefits, including reductions in air toxics, smog-forming chemicals and greenhouse-gas emissions. She noted that the cleaner cars will not be required to undergo annual emissions testing, allowing the vehicle emission testing in Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane counties to be phased out.

�The possible increased purchase costs for clean cars is more than offset by fuel economy savings,� she said. Washington residents are expected to save $263 million a year in reduced energy and emission testing costs.

�This Clean Car Act also will help Puget Sound, the Spokane area and Clark County continue to meet federal clean air standards even with continued growth. Without this act, we estimate that an extra $250 million would have to be spent to meet federal standards,� she said.

�Improved air quality also will have direct benefits to the health of children and the elderly who suffer from respiratory problems associated with poor air quality, and thereby reducing health incidents and decreasing health-care costs,� Gregoire said.

The act also discourages purchase of out-of-state new cars that don�t meet the new clean-car standards. Such cars couldn�t be registered in Washington unless they had been driven more than 7,500 miles.

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