For years, Arizona was touted as a good place for asthmatics and others who suffer from respiratory illnesses to move. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. And if Gov. Jan Brewer and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) get their way and repeal the Clean Cars Program, we will be even farther away from the clean air and public health benefits that brought many people to our state.
The Clean Cars Program limits health-damaging pollution from automobiles by establishing fleet-wide limits on tailpipe emissions and by requiring the sale of advanced-technology vehicles such as hybrids that have even lower emissions. Cleaner cars not only reduce air pollution and decrease adverse public health effects such as asthma attacks, but they save consumers money at the pump, which is particularly important as gas prices continue to fluctuate. It is no wonder that Arizonans overwhelmingly supported bringing the Clean Cars Program to our state.
Recently, in the American Lung Association of Arizona’s State of the Air report, Gila, Maricopa, Pinal and Yuma counties all received an “F” for ozone pollution. Ozone is one of the most harmful by-products of automobile emissions and puts people at risk for premature death, coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, decreased lung function, respiratory infection, lung inflammation and worsened lung diseases.
Clearly, Arizona needs to do everything it reasonably can to reduce automobile emissions. Under ADEQ’s leadership, Arizona and 13 other states adopted the Clean Cars Program which helped lead to national policy. Now, Gov. Brewer and ADEQ argue that federal policy is only incrementally weaker than the policy Arizona adopted and we should follow the federal government on this one.
With areas of our state not meeting air quality standards and other areas likely to cross that threshold soon, we need every possible improvement to protect our air and our health. The Clean Cars Program in Arizona should be a no-brainer. A diverse set of stakeholders in Arizona including major utilities, businesses and public health organizations unanimously recommended this policy as a top option to reduce emissions.
Even with other measures and federal policy in place, Arizona should pursue the Clean Cars Program in Arizona. In fact, Arizona should be moving toward the next round of clean car standards that will provide even more significant air quality and public health protections.
Arizona has much to offer its citizens and tourists. If we want to put the clean air and public health benefits that brought many people to our state back on the list, Arizona needs to promote and implement, not repeal, the Clean Cars Program.
• Stacey Mortenson is executive director of the American Lung Association in Arizona. Diane E. Brown is executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund, which conducts research and education on public interest issues.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 5:45 pm on Thu, Jun 16, 2011.
Sometimes you have to wonder if these people live in the real world...you know the one where you "have" to live by a budget, you're scared to death of losing either your house or your job or both.
HYBRID CARS COST ON AVERAGE = $30.000.00
America is in the middle of a.....DEPRESSION/RECESSION...the likes of which hasn't been seen since the .........1920's.
You have to be....WARREN BUFFET or an HEIR TO THE WAL-MART BILLIONS..........to get approved for a lousy $20,000.00...car loan.
These ...ECOLOGY....ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS........are great when........ARIZONIANS CAN AFFORD THEM..........RIGHT NOW WE ARE LEANING OVER THE ....BANKRUPTCY/DEBIT BOTTOMLESS PIT....WITH ONE FOOT ON A BANANA PEEL.
So excuse the good People of Arizona if they don't stampede to the nearest Car Lot and pick up a ....PRIUS....or another .....$30,000.00 HYBRID.
Cerulean posted at 6:27 pm on Thu, Jun 16, 2011.
I recently read a column by Michelle Reese. She said, “ozone concentrations reached their highest levels of the season by far Tuesday with six sites recording levels exceeding federal standards . . .”
The problem is that we who live in the east valley get hit with these harmful ozone levels far more drastic than the rest of the valley because of prevailing wind and heat patterns. Ozone is caused by pollutants from gasoline powered vehicle emissions.
If one were to look toward the bottom of Michelle’s article you would see that so far this year the Tribune has released nine other articles that speak of harmful ozone in the east valley. And this is not summer yet.
“The Clean Cars Program in Arizona should be a no-brainer.” Say Stacey and Diane
I agree, and because the Clean Cars Program is not a priority for our Governor I say “shame on Brewer, shame on all of us for not demanding better!”
hannah1 posted at 5:00 am on Thu, Jan 12, 2012.
Yes I also agree with Cleaner cars not only reduce air pollution and decrease adverse public health effects but they are useful to save consumers money. And it's very true advanced-technology vehicles like hybrids and electrical vehicles are always helpful for reduce air pollution by lower emissions.
Car Buying Tips
rajonmestra posted at 7:05 pm on Tue, Jun 5, 2012.
Well, it's been an issue since then and good thing to know that the government is doing such move not totally to eliminate but even just to lessen the pollutants in the air that causes respiratory disorders to our fellow men. With the cooperation of service and emission centers out there, the campaign would probably succeed. Not even, people in Arizona knows how to respect their fellow constituents and thus the job would be easier not in other states whereas they come up with such non diesel engines which contribute much pollutants in the air. On the other hand, we're also glad to know that even auto makers have been cooperating for years in accordance with the campaign. These days, they have been ending up with not just useful but environmental friendly vehicles and replacement stuff including muffler, injectors, suspension and even engines. There are now hybrid electric vehicles of which experts were seeing its potential in the future years. Bottom line, clean cars program shouldn't be a success without the help of drivers and vehicle owners out there.
cello47 posted at 8:52 pm on Wed, Sep 12, 2012.
Would like to remind people to **PLS** try and work close to home. Also PLS consider reducing use of Drive Thru's. It all adds up to a LOT of unnecessary pollution.- A parent of kids with Asthma would prob. really Thank You!!