New Jersey Steers Clear of Air Pollution

State Breathes New Life Into an Exhausting Subject

Posted: 21-Jan-2004; Updated: 22-Jan-2004

Under the federal Clean Air Act, states with serious air pollution from cars may adopt stronger emissions standards set by California as an alternative to federal emissions standards. California's tough requirements have had something of a ripple effect through the Northeast: Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and New York have all adopted California's standards. Yet, New Jersey represents something of a geographical coup.

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The health hazard of vehicle exhaust on New Jersey's roads will be lessened thanks to the new law. (Web cam image from N.J. Department of Transportation.)

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"It's very controversial in New Jersey because they have auto plants," said Environmental Defense project manager Millie Baird, who sees New Jersey as a pioneer for the Mid-Atlantic states. "It's breaking new geographic ground."

Winning the tough three year-battle between environmental groups and the automotive industry gives rise to hope that other states may follow suit. The technology - and momentum - are there. Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and Connecticut are all considering adopting similar clean car laws, though Baird admits "it's not a slam dunk" that other states will get on board soon.

Clearing the Air

It's an uphill fight but with major payoffs when it comes to clean air and health. New Jersey has some of the country's worst air pollution. By Environmental Protection Agency estimates, residents of the Garden State breathe air that is 1,600 times dirtier than allowed by federal safety guidelines. This translates to more asthma attacks, cancer risk and heart disease - and huge costs to taxpayers. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma alone costs New Jersey residents $300 million annually in direct medical expenditures and indirect costs.

The New Jersey Clean Cars Act has the potential to turn this scenario around. Cars account for approximately 80 percent of the airborne carcinogens in New Jersey and 40 percent of the chemicals that form smog or ozone pollution.

Adoption of the new standards by 2020 would cut air toxics in the state by 19% more than the weaker federal standards, the equivalent of taking more than 300,000 new cars off New Jersey?s roads.

California As a Road Map to Clean Air

California's program continues to be a blueprint for states looking to restore healthy air, as states like Connecticut look to adopt stringent low emissions programs.

Environmental Defense is on the ground working with the Connecticut Fund for the Environment and the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group to get the Constitution State to pass legislation similar to New Jersey's.

"We expect the bill to be introduced in this session with bipartisan co-sponsorship," said Baird.

The transportation sector is responsible for approximately 39 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Connecticut, according to an Environmental Defense report due out next month. In addition, asthma rates among children and adults in Connecticut hover in the eight to ten percent range; in a typical year in the state, smog is responsible for over 2,500 emergency room visits and some 100,000 asthma attacks. If California's emissions standards were used, the state would see a reduction in overall toxic emissions by 137 tons per year in 2025. This is the equivalent to taking 192,000 of today's cars off the roads.

More stringent emissions standards modeled after California's and replicated in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and most recently in New Jersey, will significantly improve Connecticut's air quality and the health of our citizens.

"With more states turning toward California's tough standards, the savings in health costs will be significant and the country will literally begin to breathe easier," said Baird.

Links

• State of New Jersey Press Release: Governor McGreevey Signs 'Clean Car Bill' Into Law (1/14/04)
• Connecticut Fund for the Environment
• Connecticut Public Interest Research Group
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
• Article: California Passes Landmark Greenhouse Gas Bill (7/02/02)