Consumers will pay for rules on greenhouse gas

The effort to force Arizona to go "green" by regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles would have a least one big impact - it would cost new vehicle buyers some green in the form of higher vehicle prices.
 
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, following the lead of California, ordered the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Control to require new emissions standards for carbon dioxide on new vehicles sold in the state beginning in 2011.
 
Among other provisions, the regulation would require vehicle manufacturers to reduce overall greenhouse emissions from their total sales in the state by 37 percent by 2016.
 
It would also mandate that 11 percent of each manufacturer's vehicles sold in the state beginning in 2011 have no emissions of carbon dioxide. That means they would have to be powered by batteries, hydrogen or some other clean technology - although such a requirement ignores how dealers can force consumers to buy these vehicles.
 
The state regulation of the so-called "greenhouse gas" that has been linked to global warming was approved by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council Tuesday, which rejected arguments that there was no legislative approval to control carbon dioxide.
 
Whether the regulation will actually take place or not remains a question despite the governor's determination to make it happen. The first hurdle is the federal government which is refusing to allow individual states to impose their own greenhouse gas standards. That issue will likely be decided in the courts.
 
A state court challenge may also come based on whether state law allows regulation of carbon dioxide, which was not included in the 1967 law permitting regulation of air contaminants from vehicles.
 
And then there is a proposal currently being considered in the Legislature which specifically prevents the state from regulating greenhouse gases.
 
There is good reason to oppose the idea of regulating carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.
 
First, even supporters of the idea acknowledge there would be little impact because it is a worldwide issue. Third World nations will continue to produce high levels of carbon dioxide and there are also many natural producers of the gas over which there is no control.
 
At the same time, however, supporters will say each must do their tiny part to help - ignoring the consequences for consumers and others of having to meet the limits.
 
The regulation will result in higher priced vehicles, perhaps ranging into thousands of dollars more per vehicle. The exact amount is disputed, although all agree there will be a cost. Supporters of regulation shrug this off, apparently feeling consumers must be sacrificed in their global warming crusade.
 
It also likely would limit choice for consumers in the kinds of vehicles they can buy since automakers would have to find a way to ensure their state fleets meet emission goals.
 
The bottom line is that consumers will be the ultimate victims of this regulation, having to pay for this nearly meaningless measure that is intended to make global warming opponents feel good.