Assignment 2 - President Obama's Stand on Greenhouse Gases from Automobiles

I was born and raised in Michigan and therefore find these two articles interesting due to the impact that it will have on automakers and those who will be responsible for implementing these standards.

Obama’s Order is Likely to Tighten Auto Standards
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/us/politics/26calif.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=obama%20environment&st=cse

Agent of (Climate) Change
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012703013.html?sub=new

Summary of Articles:
On Monday, January 26th – President Barack Obama took two steps in order to ensure that standards were set for greenhouse gas emissions. Previously, President George Bush was noted as not taking a firm stance on setting in place regulations and standards to control emissions. President Obama ordered that the Transportation Department issue interim fuel-efficiency targets to automakers that would make them compliant by 2012. The goal would be to achieve a “national fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020”, which is specified in the 2007 energy law. President Obama also informed the EPA to review the request that was made by California to get a waiver for implementation of their tailpipe emissions law. At this time, there are 12 other states who are considering implementing an emissions law, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Washington. The standards to be set by these states will be a more strict requirement than currently mandated by the federal government. There are some concerns amongst those who oppose the decision that it will create a more strenuous burden on automakers, who are already currently experiencing a number of financial/budgetary concerns. Another concern is that there will not be consistency in expectations and requirements across state lines, which could cause problems in implementing policy due to these conflicting standards. The pursuit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one that will take time and an integrated effort of the American public; the steps taken by President Obama are one of many steps in finding a solution to the existing environmental dilemma.

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