Landmark AB 1058 | Green Energy News

January 27, 2002 – Vol.6 No.44

LANDMARK AB 1058.

By a thin margin the California Assembly has approved legislation - Assembly Bill 1058 - that will require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop and adopt regulations by 2004 that achieve the maximum feasible reduction of carbon dioxide emitted by noncommercial, cars, light trucks and other vehicles.

For auto manufacturers, which will have to comply, the regulations would go into effect the following year.

Passenger cars and light trucks are targeted because motor vehicles account for over half the carbon dioxide emissions in the state.

The broad language of the bill - CARB must consider the technical feasibility of the regulations - consider the impact of the regulations on the state’s economy - provide to the maximum extent feasible, the means by which automobile manufacturers may meet the requirements of the regulations - gives great latitude and options to both CARB and the automakers.

Given the language of the bill don’t expect automakers to suddenly develop large numbers of fuel cell or hybrid vehicles for the California market. It is safer, because of the language and short period of time before until the regulations go into effect, to expect far more modest improvements in vehicle technology to cut emissions. But one can always hope for more.

The first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation legislation is expected to be approved by the California Senate and signed into law. For a copy of AB 1058 visit the California Assembly at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/ (click Legislation, enter 1058 and Pavley, the bill sponsor.)