Annapolis - The Maryland State Senate passed the Clean Cars Act by a
vote of 38-9. The vote came six days after the Maryland House of Delegates passed
the bill 122-16. Minor differences between the two versions now must be
reconciled before it is sent to the governor.
Amendments were attached to the bill to clarify certain provisions
and ensure it will have its intended effect, but no amendments passed that
would weaken the program.
In his first major step on the environment, Gov. Martin
O’Malley became a primary sponsor of the bill and helped to usher it through
the legislature. Sen. Brian Frosh and Del. Elizabeth Bobo were the primary
legislative sponsors.
“The governor and legislative leaders deserve immense credit
for standing up for our health and the environment,” said Environment Maryland
State Director Brad Heavner. “Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.,
House Speaker Michael Busch, House committee
chair Maggie McIntosh, and the primary sponsors all worked hard to get this
bill through.”
The bill got off to a surprisingly fast start during this
year’s legislative session. Legislative leaders indicated strong support in
January, and the governor became a primary sponsor soon after his inauguration.
“Normally nothing gets finalized in Annapolis
until the last week of the session,” added Heavner. “The fact that this was all
said and done with a month to go speaks volumes about what a great policy it
is.”
The Clean Cars Act will reduce global warming pollution by
4.4 million tons per year by 2016 when it is fully phased in. It will also reduce
smog-forming pollution by 3600 tons per year and cancer-causing pollution by
100 tons per year by 2025 compared to federal standards.
Maryland now
joins eleven other states that have adopted the Clean Cars Program. The program
adds carbon dioxide, the primary cause of global warming, to the list of
pollutants that are covered by vehicle emission standards. It also strengthens
the standards for other pollutants and requires that a percentage of new cars
sold each year be advanced technology vehicles such as hybrids.
Auto manufacturers fought the bill hard, hiring a team of
lobbyists and distributing grossly inaccurate information. Ultimately,
lawmakers saw through this misinformation and embraced the benefits projected
from the legislation.
