Comment Log Display

It is my understanding that on March 27th, the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) will revise its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV)
Program, which put more than 5000 electric cars on the roads and
avoided more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
emissions (even when factoring in power plant emissions).  In
2003, however, changes to the ZEV Program allowed electric cars to
disappear as long as automakers promised to produce 25 thousand
ZEVs in 2012-2014 and 50 thousand in 2015-2017.  Now the
automakers want out of that promise, and CARB is allegedly going
to vote to weaken the Program again.

California is the only state allowed under the Clean Air Act to
set tougher limits on vehicle emissions than federal regulations. 
Several states choose to follow California's standards, and at
least 10 states are looking to us to set stricter limits so that
they can follow suit.  The CARB vote has national implications.

The Tesla Roadster is now going into regular production, and
various small electric vehicles are out on the roads.  It is time
to bring back the '90s mandate for true zero-emission vehicles. 
We need CARB's help to make sure that mass-affordable clean cars
hit the market soon.  Please do not weaken the ZEV Program.

Many thanks,
R.M. 'Auros' Harman
Presidio School of Management, MBA in Sustainable Business
Practices, '09
Elected Delegate, A.D. 21, CADem State Central Committee