Maryland Clean Car Act, success!

After all the steam and the heated debates between environmentalists and car dealers on this initiative, we are good to go on continuing the fight against global warming.

The state Senate approved the "clean cars" bill last night, making it nearly certain that Maryland will become the 11th state to follow California's lead in cutting smog and global warming gases.[...]

The measure is designed to force manufacturers to sell fewer gas-guzzling SUVs and other large vehicles and to instead market more hybrids and other cars with fuel-efficient engines.[...]

Brad Heavner, executive director of Environment Maryland, said the law will mean that vehicles in the state will emit 4.4 million fewer tons of global warming gases per year by 2020. This isn't enough to stop climate change, he said, but it's a step in the right direction because cars and trucks emit about a quarter of greenhouse gases.[...]

Among those voting in favor of the bill last night was Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus, an Eastern Shore Republican, who said his rating from an environmental organization "was about 16 percent" out of 100. But he said Maryland must reduce Chesapeake Bay pollution from all sources, including nitrogen from vehicle exhaust.[...]

What the bill will do

• Reduce global warming emissions from new cars sold in Maryland by, on average, 30 percent by 2016.
• Penalize automakers that don't meet the standard. They must offer customers incentives to buy hybrids and other efficient vehicles.
• Cost buyers about $1,000 more per vehicle, on average. Most of the cost will be for big vehicles that need engine upgrades to pollute less.
• Require all cars sold in Maryland to have about $150 in smog-control equipment not standard in most states.

The bottom line is emission needs to be cut. We need to reduce nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide in our air. It’s going to be a higher cost for consumers, but only for the SUV gas guzzlers. If California strict guidelines could do it, our dealerships can adjust. Woo hoo for Maryland. (How about you, DC?)

For more comments and debates, go here and the Q&A on the bill is here.