U.S. EPA denies 'Green group' petitions to regulate automotive C[O.sub.2] emissions

Diesel Fuel News, Sept 2, 2003

U.S. EPA Denies 'Green Group' Petitions to Regulate Automotive C[O.sub.2] Emissions: U.S. Congress never gave EPA authority to regulate C[O.sub.2] emissions from cars, so EPA couldn't do it even if it wanted to, the agency announced last week. "Green" groups claim that car C[O.sub.2] emissions are a threat to human health and the environment.

But even if that's proven to be true, it's still far cheaper to regulate stationary source C[O.sub.2] emitters than mobile sources, experts (including U.S. Department of Energy) say. Most U.S. consumers prefer larger, "safer" vehicles (emitting more C[O.sub.2]) even though all automakers offer low-cost small cars that produce fewer C[O.sub.2] emissions. It's possible that more low-C[O.sub.2] diesel cars will enter the U.S. market once ULSD fuel enables catalysts for ultra-low "criteria" pollutants (not C[O.sub.2]) in 2007. Meantime, EPA touts its efforts to encourage reduction in trucking/railroad idling C[O.sub.2] emissions through "SmartWay" retrofits.