Home > Legislative Tracker > Clean Cars

Air Quality:
Clean Cars

Our Position: support
Bill Number: H2185
Sponsor: Rep. Alexander, Rep. Carney, Rep. Hackney, Rep. Harrison
Legislative Session: 2006

This bill requires North Carolina to adopt the Low-Emission Vehicle II/Zero Emission Vehicle (LEV II/ZEV) program.  This would require all new, conventional cars sold in the state to meet tighter emissions requirements.  The bill requires a percentage of North Carolina’s fleet to be comprised of low polluting gasoline powered and alternative technology vehicles (the ZEV requirement).

Status

Unfortunately, it seems that Clean Cars was a little ahead of its time this session.  However, the

idea of changing North Carolina’s emission standards is not dead – we secured a study to look at how our state can

reduce emissions from mobile sources (including greenhouse gas emissions).  This study will include a look at what

other states have done and whether their policies would provide a benefit to North Carolina.

Action Needed

NC Sierra Club appreciates the leadership of the sponsors of this year's "Clean Cars" legislation.  Sponsors include: Senators Clodfelter and Nesbitt; and Representatives Alexander, Carney, Harrison and Hackney

        Rep. Alexander                           Rep. Harrison and Rep. Carney

           Sen. Clodfelter                         Sen. Nesbitt                         Rep. Hackney

Contact

Background

North Carolina citizens deserve clean air.  North Carolina consumers also deserve access to the same technology that is cleaning up air in nine other states.  North Carolina proved its visionary leadership with the approval of the Clean Smokestacks Act in 2001.  Now it’s time to prove our regional leadership again by acting on the Clean Cars Act and addressing the other half of the equation to cleaning up our air.

What does the "Clean Cars" Act do?

--Beginning in 2009, this bill requires N.C. to adopt the Low-Emission Vehicle II/Zero Emission Vehicle (LEV II/ZEV) program.  This would require all new, conventional cars sold in the state to meet tighter emissions requirements.    The bill requires a percentage of North Carolina’s fleet to be comprised of low polluting gasoline powered and alternative technology vehicles (the ZEV requirement).

How does the "Clean Cars" Act benefit North Carolina?

--According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 N.C. will be the 7^th most populous state.[iii]  With more people, naturally comes more traffic on our roadways.  This bill will help protect the health, environment, and economy of North Carolina.

Health:

--Across the state, automobiles contribute to about 30% of the state’s air toxic pollution and at least 37% of the state’s ozone pollution.[iv]  Long term solutions to North Carolina’s air quality problems must address pollution from motor vehicles.

--More than 4 million North Carolinians often experience unsafe levels of ozone during the summer months.[v] 

--Asthma among children increased 74% between 1980 and 1994 in North Carolina.[vi]  Today, 170,000 children, or one in ten, suffer from asthma.[vii]

--Levels of at least one carcinogen exceed U.S. EPA’s cancer-risk benchmark in 96 counties in North Carolina.[viii]

Economic: 

--Counties that don’t meet federal air quality standards and don’t take steps to clean up may have less ability to recruit new industries and prepare for expected growth in vehicle miles traveled.

--Part or all of 32 counties in N.C. are not in attainment with federal air quality standards, including many major metropolitan areas.[ix] 

--The Clean Cars Act provides more access to advanced technology vehicles, which will help meet the high consumer demand that has resulted in waiting lists of up to six months. 

What would the "Clean Cars" Act mean for North Carolina consumers?

--The estimated average per vehicle cost of implementing clean car standards is $107.[x]  When compared to the average cost of a new vehicle (about $24,800), this additional cost of implementing the Clean Cars Act would amount to less than 1% of the total vehicle cost in almost every case. 

-- You can still drive a pick-up truck or SUV!  In fact, the cars sold under Clean Car standards are the same as you drive now –same features, same vehicles, only they have added pollution control technology which is already available in the 9 other states (approx. 30% of cars sold nationally).

-- On average, clean cars are more fuel efficient than today’s cars because they virtually eliminate evaporative fuel loss. Consumers benefit from savings at the pump and fewer routine maintenance visits.