Supreme Court ruling could lead to rise in number of fuel-efficient cars

A Supreme Court ruling on April 2 that declared that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act could lead to more fuel-efficient cars as early as next year, according to The Associated Press and other media reports.

The case, Massachusetts v. EPA, 05-1120, has been working its way through the courts since 2003, according to the National Resource Defense Council, a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists. The Council was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The case centered on whether the EPA has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide – the main cause of global warming – from motor vehicles, according to the Council.

In 2003, the EPA ruled that it had no power to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping chemicals. But the High Court on April 2 struck down that ruling in a majority opinion written by Justice John Paul Stevens.

The Court ordered EPA to make a fresh decision on curbing heat-trapping pollution from new cars, SUVs, and trucks, according to the Council.

Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, issued the following comment in response to the Supreme Court decision:

“The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers believes that there needs to be a national, federal, economy-wide approach to addressing greenhouse gases. This decision says that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be part of this process.

“The Alliance looks forward to working constructively with both Congress and the administration, including EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in developing a national approach.”

The Alliance said that alternative fuel autos, including hybrids, diesel and ethanol-capable vehicles, enhance energy security because they are the most effective way to reduce gallons of gas used. “Last year, automakers sold more than 1.5 million alternative fuel autos, and our goal is to sell even more this year,” the Alliance said. In 2007, automakers are offering 60 models of alternative fuel autos for sale, the Alliance said.

Automakers are committed to improving fuel efficiency, the Alliance said. Today, every model is available with some fuel-efficient technology, including variable valve timing, continuously variable transmissions, cylinder deactivation and more, according to the Alliance. Automakers already offer nearly 200 models that achieve 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, the group said.

The Alliance urged consumers to consider buying vehicles with fuel-efficient technologies, “because such autos can reduce gasoline use and thereby reduce carbon dioxide.”

The National Resources Defense Council, meanwhile, said, “The Supreme Court’s decision comes as Congress is moving into high gear on new legislation to cap and reduce global warming pollution from all major sources across the economy.” The Council also noted that major U.S. businesses are supporting limits on heat-trapping emissions.

“This January NRDC joined General Electric, DuPont, BP and several other businesses and environmental groups in the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which endorses substantial, enforceable limits on global warming pollution,” the Council said.

NRDC said it was joined in the lawsuit by 12 states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington), Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., and a number of environmental groups and non-profit organizations.