Clean Air News

But time is short for lawmakers to approve the measure

Raleigh—Pending “Clean Cars” legislation (H 2185) would increase production and sales of hybrids and other advanced vehicles by five-fold, and make cuts in smog-forming pollution equal to removing more than half a million cars yearly from the state’s roads, a new analysis shows.  Clean air advocates are asking lawmakers to debate the legislation first in the House Environment Committee, where the bill has been referred.  But time is short.

“The Clean Cars Bill would make critical cuts to smog pollution and increase production and sales of gas-saving hybrids by five-fold,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, state director for Environment North Carolina. “The bill would also promote the advancement of other clean technologies.  But time is running out for lawmakers to act.”

Cuts in Pollution

According to the NC Division of Air Quality, the Clean Cars program would reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution by roughly four tons a day by 2010, six tons a day by 2020, and 10 tons per day by 2030.[1]  The “average” car that will be available in future years under the Clean Cars program emits 8.5 pounds of nitrogen oxide pollution per year.[2]  Using these statistics, Environment North Carolina made the following calculations:

Increasing Hybrid Availability

Under the Clean Cars program, automakers would also have a very strong incentive to boost hybrid sales.  New hybrid sales in 2004 in North Carolina numbered just over 1700,[3] out of total new car and light truck registrations of more than 386,000,[4] or less than 1 percent of total new car registrations.  Under the clean cars program, should automakers take maximum availability of a credit program for advanced technology vehicles, hybrid registrations should comprise more than 5 percent of new cars sold by 2009.[5]