Clean car program drives global warming efforts

JOLIET—The proposed Illinois Clean Car Act, HB3424, is meant to mirror GHG vehicle emissions standards in California. In effect the bill would mandate that all newly built vehicles get 39 miles to the gallon by 2012.
In an October presentation, Kate Shrank, an environmental attorney from Naperville and founder of the nonprofit organization, Cool Ride Clean Choice, updated the Legislative Advocacy Committee for the Diocese of Joliet on the proposal that could come up for a vote during the November veto session of the Illinois Legislature.
“Cleaning up the cars on our state’s roads can make a huge difference to our environment, public health and economy. And the way to do it is simple: adopt California’s car emissions standards, just like 14 other states all across American have already done,” noted.

Together with a team of environment-savvy high school students from throughout the DuPage County region, Shrank collected petition signatures in support of the measure at the Oct. 11 Wheaton Franciscan-sponsored Earth Summit 2008. She explained that these more restrictive standards would reduce carbon monoxide and other pollutants between 5 percent and 16 percent. In addition, carcinogenic air toxics stand to drop by another 13 percent to 21 percent and global warming pollution by “a whopping 30 percent.”

As demonstrated in California and 14 other states, car manufacturers already have the technology to produce the same fuel-efficient vehicles in Illinois. What places Illinois in a pinnacle position is the fact that is the fifth most populous state in the U.S. If Illinois approves the measure, it could be seen as the “tipping point” to force federal legislation, she said.  

And while the proposed HB3424 acts to reduce global warming, Shrank said it has multiple benefits. A significant reduction in GHGs has been found to decrease the number of asthma emergencies at hospitals. Advocacy updates are scheduled for JPIC Web site posting.  For more information, visit http://www.CleanCarsIllinois.org and the Environmental Law & Policy Center Web site at http://www.ELPC.org.