March 28, 2007 –The Clean Cars Act has been approved with no significant amendments by both the Maryland House and the Senate and is virtually guaranteed to pass out of Conference Committee this legislative session, which ends on April 9th. The Clean Cars Act regulates carbon dioxide emissions from all cars sold in Maryland and ensures that the state will greatly reduce its contribution to global warming.
“Global warming is an issue whose time has come, and the Clean Cars Act is one obvious solution,” said Josh Tulkin, Organizing Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “The citizens of Maryland realize this, and their overwhelming support of this bill has finally paid off.”
The Maryland Clean Cars Act will require cleaner and more efficient cars to be sold in Maryland. This policy will bring more hybrids to Maryland, reduce cancer-causing pollution, and take the first steps towards regulating carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas, from Maryland cars.
Eleven other states have already adopted the Clean Cars Program. Carmakers are currently gearing up to meet the stricter standards in 30 percent of the new car market. This bill would require them to put advanced technology components in the cars they ship to Maryland as well.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network Executive Director Mike Tidwell said: “We commend all the legislators who voted in favor of Clean Cars for taking a stand to fight global warming, clean up the Bay, and protect our health. We’re enormously gratified that one of Governor O’Malley’s first acts as Governor was to come out in strong support of Clean Cars and give this bill the boost it needed.”
Not only is the Clean Cars Act good for the environment, it will also save consumers money. While cars will cost an estimated $1000 more, the average consumer will save approximately $40 a month on gas as a result of increased auto efficiency.
![Lengths of pipe placed the ground along the under-construction Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia, U.S. September 29, 2019. Picture taken September 29, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller (Newscom TagID: rtrleleven529716.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]](https://chesapeakeclimate.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/unnamed-336x173.jpg)
