When Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed an executive order last week adopting California's motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standard, it brought to 15 the number of states to do so, or prepared to do so. Starting in 2009, California would require a 22% reduction in GHG emissions from new motor vehicles by 2012, and a 30% reduction by 2016.
It's hardly a nationwide movement, but formidable nevertheless. The 15 states include virtually the entire Northeast: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and Maryland; the entire West Coast: California, Oregon and Washington; and Arizona, New Mexico and Florida.
Admittedly, the Group of 15 doesn't include any states in the Midwest, the Mountain West, or the South, with the exception of Florida. However, the states have a combined population of about 131 million, or approximately 43% of the total US population. In 2006, they accounted for 5.1 million new passenger car and light truck registrations, or 38% of the US total. With California topping the list, seven of the states were among the top ten in new registrations.
When this group of states adopts the same standards to control greenhouse gas emissions, it's hardly the patchwork quilt of regulations that critics decry. Rather, because it's such a big market, it sets a de facto national standard.
Florida is a particular prize because of its size (the fourth most populous in the US; California is first), its high political profile, and its reputation as a Republican stronghold. What makes Florida's decision noteworthy is that it was made by Republican Charlie Crist, who succeeded term-limited Republican Jeb Bush, the President's brother, who essentially ignored or downplayed the issue of global warming for most of his two terms.
Crist also ordered deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from Florida utilities. A Florida newspaper columnist called Crist's actions a "tectonic shift in how the Sunshine State plans to tackle global warming and greenhouse gases produced within the state."
While political divisions over global warming in Congress roughly break down along party lines (Democrats, in general, support mandatory controls on emissions; Republicans, generally, are opposed), it is significant that California's program was initiated by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the most prominent Republican governor in the US.
Of course, neither California, nor any of the 14 states prepared to follow in her wake, will be able to control greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles until the US Environmental Protection Agency grants California a waiver to do so. EPA is in no rush, indicating that it would have a decision by the end of the year. Not soon enough for the state, or Democratic Senators Bill Nelson of Florida and Dianne Feinstein of California. They introduced legislation requiring a decision within one month after their bill is enacted, should it be enacted.
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