Crist vows judgment day vs. global warming
By GABRIEL MARGASAK
gabriel.margasak@scripps.com
July 14, 2007
www1.tcpalm.com
Photo The Associated Press
Gov. Charlie Crist, right, introduces his California counterpart, Arnold Schwarzenegger, during the luncheon at Crist's global climate change summit Friday in Miami.
MIAMI — Don't worry about the return of long lines to have your tailpipe tested, even as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist ordered tough controls on pollution from vehicles.
In the big action scene of his global climate change summit Friday, Crist vowed to join California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a fight against the federal government to adopt more stringent auto emission standards to reduce greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming.
And Crist signed, as promised, executive orders saying the state government must become more energy efficient, utilities and vehicles must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the Sunshine State has to use more alternative energy sources.
Crist said the details of the vehicle emission plan had yet to be worked out, but, "I don't want to have our citizens wait in the lines they used to wait in years ago."
From 1991 to 2000, emissions tests — which measure vehicle's exhaust for pollutants — were required annually for every motorist in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Broward, Duval and Palm Beach counties. The tests were hugely unpopular with drivers.
One key component of Crist's plan was to adopt California's effort to force automakers to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 22 percent by 2012. But the governor's orders are aimed squarely at automakers, utilities and other businesses.
Standing together, Schwarzenegger called Crist "another great action hero."
In 2005, California's Air Resources Board requested the federal government allow the state to adopt its own emissions standards.
Without a definite response to the request, Schwarzenegger told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency he will sue if they don't take action.
Crist said Friday he would join that action.
"As the old adage goes, there's strength in numbers," he said, "and Gov. Schwarzenegger could not be more right."
Officials with the EPA could not be reached for comment.
Michael Sole, the secretary of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, said Florida's emissions rule would focus on how cars are built. It potentially could increase the cost of buying a vehicle, according to one study he read.
"But if you look at the fuel efficient savings that you then gain, (the extra costs) are readily offset in a very short period of time, especially with today's fuel prices," he said.
And the controlling emissions are crucial, Crist said.
"I think that what you can be assured of though, the goals that we have set out are ambitious," he said. "They are important. We want to make sure they are adhered to." |
