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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

State Lawmakers Mull Cleaner Car Standards

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Monday, February 11, 2008   

St. Paul, MN – During their first week in St. Paul, state lawmakers will spend time considering a "clean car standard" for controlling pollution from vehicles. Jim Erkel, with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, says the proposal is based on the California model, which at least a dozen other states have already adopted.

"Californians were concerned about greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, and subsequently adopted regulations requiring a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2016."

Erkel explains the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's view is that greenhouse gas emissions fall under the category of "fleet mileage" rather than "auto emissions" standards, and has denied California a waiver that would allow the more stringent standards to go into effect. California has appealed the decision, with Minnesota and a number of other states supporting the challenge.

Carmakers argue that higher standards would increase production costs and sticker prices; they also contend there's no evidence that consumers are especially interested in additional pollution controls. Erkel explains there are plenty of fuel-efficient cars on the roads, with buyers on waiting lists for some models.

"The manufacturers are only talking about the additional cost. Studies show automakers continually overestimate those numbers. But, even if you assume that those cost figures are accurate, the savings from the improved fuel efficiency over standard models more than pay for themselves, within a year or two of ownership."

Erkel believes tailpipe pollution is not an issue that can wait to be addressed, in a state where there is already mounting evidence of the impact of global warming after the major fires in the Boundary Waters.

"You're not getting the same northern or boreal forest returning; you're seeing something more like the deciduous forest coming in. That's a serious red flag that change is already on our doorstep. Over the long term, we could see the Boundary Waters wink out, completely. We can see almost all of the remaining natural heritage of our state disappearing. The water and the land have changed dramatically."

Advocates of the tougher emission standards say vehicles would operate more efficiently, get better mileage, and cut carbon dioxide and other air pollutants -- all of which mean cleaner air for Minnesota. State lawmakers will weigh in on the issue in the coming weeks.



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