The Clean Vehicles Program would help reduce air pollution in the state by
bringing less polluting cars to Pennsylvania.
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The Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program, which would bring
cleaner cars—and cleaner air—to Pennsylvania, moved closer to
implementation over the summer, despite lingering legislation in
Harrisburg that could derail the much-needed program.
Once implemented, the program would set stricter air pollution
standards for cars and light trucks sold in Pennsylvania, resulting
in a 10 percent reduction in annual smog pollution from these
vehicles by 2025.
The program would also result in a 25 percent reduction in annual
global warming pollution from cars and trucks, and has been supported
by groups ranging from the American Lung Association
of Pennsylvania to the Pennsylvania PTA.
Disappointingly, the Pennsylvania state Senate approved legislation
(SB 1025) this spring to block the state from implementing
the Clean Vehicles Program. Luckily this bill and a similar House
version (HB 2141) lost momentum in the House over the summer—
due in large part to public opposition
In March, PennEnvironment turned out dozens of citizens to
three public hearings held on the issue, and collected over 1,500
comments in support of the Clean Vehicles Program. The state
received over 4,000 comments in total, with nearly 95 percent of
the comments in favor of cleaner cars. This summer, PennEnvironment
released a new report on air pollution’s public health
impacts (see sidebar) and continued to generate statewide media
coverage on the issue.
State regulators are expected to implement the Clean Vehicles
Program before the year’s end, and PennEnvironment will be
working this fall to ensure that this milestone is met by stopping
the state Legislature in its attempts to block the program. |
Air pollution takes
toll on PA’s health