Clean Cars in Illinois
Illinois is on the verge of passing tough, new legislation that would cut passenger vehicle pollution by 30 percent by the year 2016. The Environmental Law & Policy Center is urging citizens to support "Clean Cars for Illinois." So if you're considering a new vehicle, you might want to wait until the dust settles first.
Green Cars and Blue Skies
More than half of the carbon monoxide in the air in Illinois comes from the vehicles driving on its streets, roads, and freeways. ELPC is asking residents of Illinois to adopt standards that will demand cleaner cars from auto manufacturers. Environment Illinois claims that these standards will save Illinois residents $1 billion in gas costs per year.
Smog is responsible for causing many Illinois residents to suffer from asthma attacks. Chicago's asthma-related hospitalization rates are *double* the national average. Smog can also lead to reduced lung function, as well as serious heart damage and heart attacks. The Harvard School of Public Health has conducted studies that have confirmed thousands of premature deaths due to the effects of pollution. Illinois is attempting to work with Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota to attempt to put a cap on this type of pollution across the whole region. Only two Midwestern states have more than ten million registered vehicles - Illinois is one of those states. If Illinois adopts the clean car standards, almost 40% of the entire nation's new car market will have adopted cleaner standards. This may lead to the automakers deciding to make greener cars for the U.S.
In its "Clean Car Fact Sheet," the Illinois Climate Action Network claims that between 2009 and 2020, pollution will be reduced by 45% more than the new federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program has provided for. The Fact Sheet also claims that 12,468 new jobs will be created as a result of the passing of the clean car measure.
Farmers Grow Concerned
Apparently, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, among others, are worried that the Clean Cars bills will have a negative effect on ethanol manufacturing. This, along with the auto industry's claims that auto dealerships who are already hurting from the recession will end up shutting down, has caused a scare among legislators.
Voters Like It
If the voters in Illinois have anything to say about this legislation, though, it is likely to pass. Last year, almost 89 percent of those surveyed said they would support it. So, if you're in the market for a car, you may want to buy a used one for the time being. Environment Illinois states that used car buyers will see the most fuel savings if the legislation passes.