California AG sues automakers over vehicle emissions

Mercury News
September 20, 2006

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California's attorney general on Wednesday sued the six largest U.S. and Japanese automakers, including GM, Ford and Toyota, for damages related to greenhouse gas emissions.

The federal lawsuit alleges that emissions from their vehicles have harmed Californians' health, damaged the environment and cost the state millions of dollars to combat their effects.

``It's part of a strategy to address global warming,'' Attorney General Bill Lockyer told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. ``The goal of this one is to hold these automobile manufacturers accountable for the monies taxpayers are spending to address these harms.''

The lawsuit is the latest effort from California to combat the effects of global warming.

Last month, the state Legislature passed a landmark bill designed to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases from industries. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign the measure into law by the end of the month.

Two years ago, the state enacted similar requirements for auto emissions, prompting carmakers to file suit in federal court.

Lockyer's action comes 48 days before the November election. He is termed out of office this year and is running for state treasurer.

``This is the silly season of elections in the fall, and obviously he thinks this will gain him a few marginal votes,'' said Sean McAlinden, an economist with the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. ``I don't think it means anything more than it says. It's California politics.''

Lockyer said the complaint has nothing to do with election-year politics.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Oakland, names Chrysler Motors Corp., General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor North America, Honda North America and Nissan North America.

The automakers responded to Lockyer's lawsuit by issuing a statement saying they already are building cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers also cited a similar lawsuit brought against utilities that was dismissed previously by a federal court in New York.

The alliance did not respond to the substance of Lockyer's lawsuit, saying manufacturers would need time to review the complaint.

California already regulates auto tailpipe emissions. The state Air Resources Board in 2004 adopted rules designed to cut polluting exhaust from cars and light trucks by 25 percent and from sport utility vehicles by 18 percent.

The auto industry challenged the state's ability to set such regulations shortly after the rules took effect. In that case, automakers argue that California is acting outside its jurisdiction because the only way they can meet the more stringent emission standards is to raise fuel efficiency. Setting fuel-efficiency standards is the exclusive responsibility of the federal government.

The state has countered that automakers can meet the tougher tailpipe standards with better technology.

California is attempting to cut the amount of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020.