California's misguided policy

Not everyone approves of the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant California’s waiver to move forward with more stringent tailpipe emissions. Least of all, the The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

According to NAM’s Vice President for Energy and Resources Policy, Keith McCoy, this action could lead to a patchwork of regulations that would burden an already beleaguered manufacturing sector.

In fact, last week’s action reverses a 2008 decision by EPA to deny California a waiver under the Clean Air Act to move forward with stricter tailpipe standards in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“The NAM supports a comprehensive, federal climate policy that pre-empts state and regional programs without undermining the health of the economy,” says McCoy. “Further, we hope that the EPA’s decision will not lead to state action that will undercut efforts by federal policymakers and industry leaders to discuss federal climate policy in a transparent, predictable and rigorous manner.”