Marysville-Yuba City Appeal Democrat

Years of frustration by many states stonewalled by the auto industry over emission limits and better gasoline mileage requirements appear to be coming to an end. Sometimes change is a good thing.

President Barack Obama Tuesday took an important stand when he essentially declared that greenhouse gases are linked with federal standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

Recognizing that, Obama said the government will require new vehicles to be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel efficient by 2016.

This is especially important for California. The Golden State along with 13 other states and the District of Columbia have been pleading with the federal government to let them enact more stringent standards than the federal government's requirements.

These states wanted to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and trucks by 2016, but the Bush administration's Environmental Protection Agency played a stall game for years.

It sided with the auto industry in opposition to such standards. The automakers said they wanted no part of state-specific rules.

Obama's plan aims at cars producing higher gas mileage, at 35.5 mpg, with lower polluting air conditioning systems, with a much earlier deadline, beginning with some vehicles built in model years 2011.

Industry officials say this plan is doable because they are not hit with multiple emission requirements, which makes developing a new brand of cleaner automobile more attainable during a tighter time frame.

That makes sense to us, however, we want to make it clear this is just a beginning. There are many other factors the Obama administration and the EPA must
consider.

It must be determined if this venture will become too expensive for the public. By 2016, each new vehicle will cost an estimated additional $1,300, which means we expect the energy savings to far outweigh the additional cost of the car or truck.

This is still a fine turnaround in Washington.

Since the likes of General Motors and Chrysler have received billions in bailout funds, it's time they give back with more efficient cars and trucks.