Summary: President Barack Obama takes a stand
on fuel emissions standards. The Bush Administration denied California's proposal for
stricter standards for cars and trucks, and the auto industry
resisted as well. We'll take a look at what the new
President plans to do. Also, when you get a new cellphone, what
do you do with your old one? We're off to
a phone recycling center to see what happens
to your cell once you're done with it. More…
President Obama takes a closer look at tailpipes...
This is the Environment Report. I’m Rebecca Williams in for Lester Graham.
California – and 13 other states – have been trying to set their own stricter fuel efficiency standards for years. The Bush Administration denied California’s request in 2007.
President Barack Obama says he’s going to take a second look at that denial.
“That’s why I’m directing the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately review the denial of the California waiver request and determine the best way forward.”
President Obama says he wants to work with states to create a uniform standard.
“And let me be clear. Our goal is not to further burden an already struggling industry. It is to help America’s automakers prepare for the future.”
Automakers have fought hard to stop California’s stricter standards.
Mark Gillies is the executive editor of Car and Driver Magazine. He says if stricter standards are passed... automakers will have to make big changes to their entire fleets of cars and trucks.
“It’s like a super tanker. Trying to turn the super tanker around is not easy. Trying to get cars to the point where they’re 25% more fuel efficient in 6 years is not the work of the moment. You’re going to see some car makers manage to do it and some car makers won’t be able to do it.”
Gillies says you’ll be seeing automakers scrambling to make more electric and hybrid cars. And he says that could mean higher sticker prices in the showroom.
STING
This is the Environment Report.
It's pretty clear we Americans like our cell phones.
On average, we get a new one about every eighteen months. But we hold on to the old ones, too. The government estimates there're about 100-million lying around in closets and drawers.
Shawn Allee found people eager to take your old phones – if only you'd recycle them:
ALLEE
Other recycling groups them overseas, where the environmental laws might be more lax.
You should ask questions about where the collection or donation program sends your phone.
That’s the Environment Report. I’m Rebecca Williams.
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