SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 1995--A ground- breaking, voluntary, cost-effective and market-based program to reduce automobile pollution was signed into law yesterday by Governor Pete Wilson with the support of the California Chamber of Commerce, the Environmental Defense Fund, companies such as Raley's and many others.
Authored by State Senator Charles Calderon (D-Whittier), SB 501 was passed by both legislative houses with large majorities.
The bill will establish a voluntary, cost-effective and market-based program to reduce air emissions by scrapping high polluting light duty vehicles. Similar demonstration programs are operating throughout California but, once implemented, SB 501 will establish one of the largest scrappage programs in the country. In addition, car collectors will be given an opportunity to assess older vehicles for their value as vintage automobiles.
"Taking these high polluting cars off the road, and replacing them with newer and far cleaner cars is the single most cost-effective remaining pollution control measure," said Calderon.
"Remember, 10 percent of the cars on the road today produce 50% of the pollution."
New car emissions of hydrocarbons have been reduced by 97% from prior levels. For example, a car produced in 1964 emitted 228 pounds of pollution annually. A car produced in 1993 emits just seven pounds.
Air pollution will be reduced even more as cleaner-burning gasoline is offered at the fuel pump and new cars incorporate even stricter emission control equipment.
Both the California Chamber of Commerce and the Environmental Defense Fund lauded SB 501's market-based approach.
Allan Zaremberg, senior vice-president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said, "SB 501 does not propose any new fees or taxes.
"Instead, it provides a market mechanism to assure that needed emission reductions are achieved at the lowest possible price. We hope regulators everywhere are listening."
In a letter supporting SB 501, the Environmental Defense Fund stated, "Emission reduction programs based on market principles have the potential to provide equivalent or superior environmental benefits than traditional emission control requirements."
SB 501 was also supported by the: American Automobile Manufacturers Ass'n, Western States Petroleum Ass'n, General Motors Corporation, California Motor Car Dealers Ass'n, California Taxpayers Association, California Manufacturers Association, California Retail Air Quality Coalition, California Farm Bureau Federation, Agricultural Council of California, Certified Grocers of California Ltd., Hertz Corporation, Bank of America, Inmac Corporation M & T Chico Ranch, California Building Industry Ass'n, California State Automobile Ass'n, Western Growers Ass'n , Milk Producers Council, California Trucking Ass'n, California Business Properties Ass'n, California Hotel & Motel Ass'n, California Moving and Storage Ass'n, California Automobile Manufacturing Ass'n, Western Traffic Conference, Southern California Business Ass'n, City of Monrovia, the chambers of commerce of West Covina, Redondo Beach, Greater Tehachapi, Hermosa Beach, Santa Maria, San Mateo, Brea, San Luis Obispo, Greater La Puente, Greater San Diego, Gardena Valley, Alturas, Milpitas, Simi Valley, Greater Merced, Norwalk, Santa Clarita and the City of Industry Manufacturers Council. CONTACT:California Chamber of Commerce, Allan Zaremberg, 916/444-6670 ---
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