Gov. Gregoire approves of “clean car” standards

Gov. Chris Gregoire just released a statement saying she heartily approves of today’s decision to allow states to pursue their own “clean car” standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s what she had to say: “Today’s action by the Obama Administration is a huge win for Washington state in the fight against climate change. Vehicles are a major source of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. By having these ‘clean car’ standards for greenhouse gases, we will make significant steps toward meeting our state’s reduction targets. And by 2020 we’ll eliminate pollution in an amount equivalent to removing 1 million cars from our roads and highways.

“I applaud President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for taking this much-needed action. We’ve known for years that new standards were needed – that’s why I championed adoption of ‘clean car’ standards for our state’s residents in 2005. Now, thanks to new leadership in Washington, D.C., we finally have it. EPA’s decision allows our state to implement our standards for new vehicles.

“Washingtonians will enjoy cleaner air, and we have a new tool as we work to control the causes of climate change.”