California has been one of the most aggressive states in the nation in pushing restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. But California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols is concerned the new federal energy bill could bring those efforts to a halt. She says the business community wants the Senate bill to pre-empt state initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide …
Nichols: “…which means all of the measures that states do in the area of efficiency, of clean fuels and even California’s vehicle standards are potentially in danger.”
The business community, for its part, worries that if there isn’t a single clear nationwide standard, businesses could get stuck with a patchwork of regulations that differ from state to state.