华盛顿州签执行更严的加州汽车排放标准
华盛顿州签署法案，可能执行更加严格的加州汽车排放标准。
新的标准将于2009年生效。到2016年在华盛顿销售的所有新车，多功能运动车（SUV）和轻型卡车都将符合更加严格的标准。预计小车和轻型卡车的排放将消减25%，而大型卡车和SUV的排放将消减18%。
Gregoire表示，这是我们长期从事环境立法的一个非常重要的方面。这将有利于儿童和老年人的健康。
汽车工业争辩到，这项措施是没有必要并且费用太高。他们表示，其他州的经验表明消费者将付出更多的钱。
在华盛顿州汽车污染是空气污染最大的污染源，产生80%的有毒气体排放和55%温室气体排放。
Gregoire signs measure to tighten car emissions
Washington will mandate the California-style standards only if Oregon does the same
Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill on Friday that will bring strict California car emissions standards to Washington state.
"It's a day of hope and positive change for the entire nation," said national Sierra Club President Larry Fahn, who attended the bill signing.
The new standards will start taking effect in 2009, and by 2016 all new cars, sport utility vehicles and light trucks sold in Washington will have to comply with the tougher standards. California estimates that the regulations will cut emissions in cars and light trucks by 25 percent and in larger trucks and SUVs by 18 percent.
The Washington law will take effect only if Oregon also enacts the stricter standards. Gregoire said that she's spoken with Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and that she's confident Oregon will do so.
"The technology is there, and if it's not there, we just need to give it a little nudge," Gregoire said. "This is one of the single most important pieces of environmental legislation we've had in a long time. . . It's going to have direct benefits to the health of our children and our elderly."
Opponents in the auto industry argued that the measure is unnecessary and too costly.
"It's all pocketbook pain and no environmental gain," said Eron Shosteck, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. He said experience in other states has shown that consumers will pay thousands of dollars more for cars, without any apparent benefits.
Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, who sponsored the bill, said the combined buying power of Washington, California and seven other states will force auto makers to offer cars that meet the new standards, at reasonable prices.
Gregoire signed the bill at a waterfront park in Kirkland, east of Seattle.
The new law begins by noting that cars and trucks are the largest source of air pollution in the state, and autos produce 80 percent of all air toxic emissions and 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
