Page 6 - aruba today

A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 25 sepTember 2018

California urges Trump to drop plan for weaker fuel standard

By SUDHIN THANAWALA makers.
Associated Press "No one wins if our custom-
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Cali- ers are not buying the new
fornia officials demanded highly efficient products
Monday that the Trump ad- offered in our showrooms,"
ministration back off a plan the written testimony said.
to weaken national fuel "The standards must ac-
economy standards aimed count for consumer will-
at reducing car emissions ingness and ability to pay
and saving people money for newer technologies in
at the pump, saying the order for all the benefits of
proposed rollback would new vehicles to be real-
damage people's health ized."
and exacerbate climate Automakers are unanimous
change. in favoring one standard
Looming over the admin- for the whole country so
istration's proposal is the they don't have to design
possibility that the state, two vehicles, one for Cali-
which has become a key fornia and the states that
leader on climate change follow its requirements and
as Trump has moved to another for the rest of the
dismantle Obama-era en- nation.
vironmental rules, could Scores of people opposed
set its own separate fuel to the Trump plan testified
standard that could roil Benjamin Tuggy holds a sign while listening to speakers during the first of three public hearings on before representatives
the auto industry. That's a the Trump administration's proposal to roll back car-mileage standards in a region with some of from the U.S. Environmental
change the federal gov- the nation's worst air pollution Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 in Fresno, Calif. Protection Agency and Na-
ernment is trying to block. Associated Press tional Highway Traffic Safe-
"California will take what- ty Administration, including
ever actions are needed to worst air pollution. where residents, environ- mother from protecting her local residents who said it
protect our people and fol- State Attorney General mentalists and state offi- child," he said. would worsen their asthma.
low the law," Mary Nichols, Xavier Becerra said Cali- cials testified at the first of The proposal announced More than 130 people, in-
chairwoman of the Cali- fornia could not afford to three nationwide hearings in August by President Don- cluding doctors and elec-
fornia Air Resources Board, retreat in the fight against on the mileage plan. ald Trump's administration tric vehicle advocates, had
testified at a hearing with climate change, citing "Stopping us from protect- would freeze U.S. mileage signed up to speak before
federal officials in a region wildfires and high asthma ing our people, our jobs standards at levels man- the hearing ended.
of central California that rates among children in the and economy or our plan- dated by former President It was held in California's
has some of the nation's state's San Joaquin Valley, et is like trying to stop a Barack Obama for 2020. San Joaquin Valley, the
The standards regulate country's most productive
how far vehicles must travel agricultural region but an
on a gallon of fuel. area plagued by sooty air
Under the deal finalized un- in part because of its bowl-
der Obama, the standard shaped geography. The Si-
would rise to 36 miles per erra Nevada and two other
gallon (15 kilometers per mountain ranges wall in the
liter) by 2025, 10 miles per 250-mile (400-kilometer)
gallon (4 kilometers per li- valley. Air pollution there
ter) higher than the current is blamed for hundreds of
requirement. deaths each year.
Trump administration of- "We are asking the EPA to
ficials say waiving the represent those of us who
tougher fuel efficiency re- have asthma and respira-
quirements would make tory disease," said Janet
vehicles more affordable, DietzKamei, 73, a member
which would get safer of the Central Valley Clean
cars into consumers' hands Air Coalition.
more quickly. A major auto DietzKamei said she is un-
industry trade group says it able to leave her Fresno
supports annual increases home on some days be-
in fuel efficiency but won't cause the air is so polluted.
say by how much. Environmentalists protested
Customers aren't buying outside, hoisting signs read-
more efficient vehicles, ing, "Clean cars = Clean
Steve Douglas, senior direc- air" and chanting, "Clean
tor of energy and environ- cars now."
ment for the Alliance of Au- Paul Gipe, 67, and his wife,
tomobile Manufacturers, Nancy Nies, 69, drove from
said in testimony prepared the city of Bakersfield to
for the hearing. The group join the demonstration.
represents General Motors, "It's a step backward, and
Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Volkswa- it's a statement that air pol-
gen, BMW and other auto- lution is acceptable.q