Breaking- HUGE Environmental Win in Federal Court.

[cali]

Yeah, it'll be appealed, but we won it today:

Judge Rejects Carmakers' Emission Suit
By DAVE GRAM, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

(09-12) 15:39 PDT Montpelier, Vt. (AP) --


Vermont and several other states scored a victory on Wednesday in their battle to get automakers to comply with rules aimed at reducing global warming.


A federal judge ruled that states can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, rejecting automakers' claims that federal law pre-empts state rules and that technology can't be developed to meet them.


"There is no question that the GHG (greenhouse gas) regulations present great challenges to automakers," Judge William Sessions III, sitting in the U.S. District Court in Burlington, wrote at the conclusion of his 240-page decision. He added, "History suggests that the ingenuity of the industry, once put in gear, responds admirably to most technological challenges. In light of the public statements of industry representatives, (the) history of compliance with previous technological challenges, and the state of the record, the court remains unconvinced automakers cannot meet the challenges of Vermont and California's GHG regulations."


During a 16-day trial that concluded in May, auto industry executives testified that the regulations — adopted by California and 11 other states and pending in three others — would not stop global warming but would impose devastating new costs on the industry.


Slated to start phasing in as of 2009, the limits would require a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from cars and trucks by 2016, a standard the car makers have maintained would require average fuel economy standards for cars and the lightest category of trucks of 43.7 miles per gallon.

<snip>

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/12/financial/f104815D35.DTL

If you've followed this fight, you know what a big win this is. I *heart* Judge Sessions.

[malaise]

1. K & R n/t

[cally]

2. K&R

Excuse me while I jump for joy. This has a huge impact in California.

[cali]

3. I know!

And did you see that they expect the CA case to be dismissed?

Sessions for AG! (and i'm only half kidding- he's a great jurist)

[AikidoSoul]

18. Kick and recommend this good news N?T

[cali]

4. so where are all the folks

who say that climate change is the most important issue facing us?

[Breeze54]

5. Great news!!

:woohoo: :woohoo:

:kick: & Recommended

[Selatius]

6. Watch the Republicans champion federal power vs. states' rights

My, how the tables have turned in that age-old struggle.

[cali]

8. repukes: States rights on abortion

Federal power when it comes to anything to do with the environment or gay marriage.

[Auggie]

19. Could they appeal to a higher court?

[tom_paine]

7. K & R for things that give HOPE

:toast:

[Robbien]

9. Wasn't this the case where the Feds were using taxpayer money to lobby

against these California regs?

Nice to see a win for the environment. They are so few these days.

[AlecBGreen]

10. whoo hoo!

Good news! :party:

-Alec

p.s. "Judge William Sessions III ... wrote at the conclusion of his 240-page decision." :wow: Holy Moses! Thats a lotta decidin' going on!

p.p.s. I thought Bush was the decider...? :shrug:

[UTUSN]

11. Oh. Thought it was going to stick it to the Mexican truck drivers (but not the Canadians)!!1 n/t

[AZBlue]

12. K&R - This is fantastic!

[rosesaylavee]

13. So the vehicles they sell in Europe and anywhere but

here will be available here now. Good. (Bloody liars)

[reggie the dog]

21. here in France

I have a Peugzot 206 diesel moter that gets me 60 mpg on the highway (slightly less on the expressway where the speed limit is 81mph). I bought this car three years ago.

[rosesaylavee]

23. Yes - and the engineering it would take

to move the driver side from right to left should not be a big deal. I know our car makers here - GM for example - make great cars for Europeans but they only sell us the SUV gas guzzlers. It's ridiculous.

[blm]

14. Good to hear.

KandR

[cali]

15. kick

[flashl]

16. Good news. n/t

[AikidoSoul]

17. Cali -- thank you for posting this good news

and thanks to to Judge William Sessions III.

Industry has been pushing the idea of federal pre-emption for a long time, killing many excellent efforts by states in many environmental areas.

If Asian and European automakers can make efficient vehicles, maybe the U.S. auto industry will take the hint. Surely their sales percentages should tell them something is wrong.... or are they really that stupid that they can't recognize that U.S. citizens want high fuel efficiency cars?

[redqueen]

20. Thanks for posting this.

We need every little bit of good news!

:bounce:

[Kajsa]

22. This is wonderful news, Cali!

It's nice to see something good happen.

Thanks.

:hi: