On Environment Blog Index
December 21, 2007
Maine's clean car plan screeches to a stop

It was nearly three years ago when Adam Lee defied the auto industry and went to Augusta to urge lawmakers to require less polluting cars and trucks be sold in Maine.

The president of Lee Auto Malls has since become a vocal advocate for Maine’s clean car law, which became a centerpiece of the state’s efforts to slow global warming. The new standards, which would have made cars 30 percent cleaner and more fuel efficient by 2016, were scheduled to be phased in starting with the 2009 models.

Were. The Bush administration slammed the brakes on that plan this week by announcing it will not grant a legal waiver allowing California, Maine and at least 15 other states to clean the air and cool the planet by regulating the car industry.

“This negates the whole thing,” Lee said Friday. “We can have a law on the books. We just can’t do anything with that. We’re back to square one on emissions.”

The announcement deflated activists and frustrated governors from Augusta to Sacramento. Here’s the way many critics saw the decision:

After routinely granting more than 50 clean air waiver requests from California over the years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sat on this one for two years. Then, just before the California standards were about to be implemented in states representing nearly half of the U.S. auto market, the Bush administration cut a deal with the auto industry to accept a more gradual fuel efficiency increase in the new energy bill in return for the EPA’s best effort to hold the states at bay.

The administration denied political deal-making on the issue. It said the federal government should coordinate the response to global warming, even if it’s not as aggressive as Maine and the other states want.

“The Bush administration is moving forward with a clear national solution, not a confusing patchwork of state rules,” EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said.

Whether you agree with that reasoning or not, it’s hard to imagine the Bush Administration being any more isolated than it is now – both home and abroad – when it comes to global warming policy.

The administration compromised during a global climate conference earlier this month in Bali, Indonesia, but not before a delegate from Papua, New Guinea stood up and lectured the United States to either lead or get out of the way.
This week, governors representing nearly half of all Americans were saying pretty much the same thing.

Gov. John Baldacci, for one, issued a statement saying the Bush administration had “chosen to play the role of obstructionist” and should “stand aside and allow us to move forward.”

California, Maine and the others are sure to challenge the decision in court.
Adam Lee said he will keep trying, too.

Lee said he first spoke out simply because he wants automakers to do the right thing and build cleaner and more efficient cars and trucks. “I don’t think it’s a cake walk for Detroit, but I do believe they can do it.”

But now, he said, “it’s become a more fundamental issue of states’ rights.”

Posted by at 07:43 PM

E-mail this entry to a friend

Comments

If Adam Lee would like to become a politician why doesn't he run for office instead of pontificating from the car dealership. Oh, speaking of pontificating, the Pope does not believe in Gorbal Warming either. But you wouldn't know that because the newspaper is more concerned with Bush bashing.
Maybe Adam feels like has to make up for his dad driving a Cadillac Escalade SUV, or are the Lee's another "Do as I say, not as I do" environmental do-gooder?

Posted by Santa Claus
December 24, 2007 10:13 AM

If more dealers had the guts to speak in favor of better vehicles 20 years ago do you think that Detroit would be in a more competitive position today? Consumers have been flocking to foreign makers since the oil crisis of the 1970s when the Lee family began selling the more efficient Honda Accord. We bought one the first year and it out performed the Chrysler products I was acustomed to. Even if you leave climate change off the table it just makes sense to support vehicles that burn less oil, unless of course you enjoy shelling out exhoribitant amounts of hard earned cash to large corporations and foreign concerns who are focused on their own interests not ours. As for businesses leaders who are not afraid to speak their mind in general, this country sure could use more of that commodity because our elected leaders on both sides of the aisle continue to demonstrate their inability or unwillingness to lead! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Posted by AJ
December 25, 2007 08:05 PM

It does not make any sense to have individual states creating their own clean air regulations. Can you imagine what impact that would have on gasoline, heating oil, industry and all other related goods and services? We scarcely have enough refining capacity as it is.

If we want to strengthen the clean air standards, I would suggest the states band together and come up with a single standard - and then collectively pressure the Federal government to make this the national standard.

The corresponding impact on business, industry and the consumer would be significantly less, and we would have a better chance of obtaining those clean air goals.

Posted by Ed of Kennebunk
December 27, 2007 04:55 PM

Well,

Lee is simply blowing smoke, trolling for business by hawking AlGore's lies about globull warming.

It's a crock, a scam by a bunch of snake oil salesmen to gain miney and power, a chicken-little "sky is falling" pogram against common sense and real science.

Over 400 scientists, real climatologists, have denounced the UN and AlGore's pseudo-science. That doesn't stop the Press Herald's ledtidt staff from joining in the chorus against common sense.

Those folks urginf Maine to "go green" can get bent. I will not be part of that great lie.

Posted by
December 30, 2007 11:57 AM

Adam lee is doing the right thing. It is easy to be critical of motives when it involves business but Adam is the "real deal" and does his best to promote clean air and better economy in a culture that is currently dependant upon fossil fuels for our transportation.

I like to go fast, race, and enjoy automobiles. Global warming will occur whether we clean up our act or not as the earth has warmed and cooled many times as part of a natural cycle but that does not relieve us of a basic responsibility to protect our environment as best we can.

Much of today's air and fuel improvements are derived from automomobile racing. The environmental crowd needs to revisit restrictions imposed upon automotive modifications and loosen the noose a bit on behicles that are older so we can retrofit with more efficient exhaust and intakes to improve fuel economy and reduce pollutants. We also need to keep car manufacturers on their toes by raising the bar for clean transportation requirements through a reward system instead of a stick system. Corporations think with their pocketbooks, not with their souls. Adam is a good person and he stuck his neck out for his beliefs. The very least we can do is support his effort.

Posted by Leadfoot
January 5, 2008 09:49 AM

Adam,

Way to go! Someone has to stand up to the Evil Doers in the White House!! One person can make a difference so keep up the fight brother.

Steve Morehouse

Posted by Steve Morehouse
January 29, 2008 09:34 AM

Post a comment









Remember personal info?







Please enter the code as seen in the image above:



Blog Index

John covers environmental issues for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. A reporter for 20 years, he always hoped to find some use for his undergraduate degree in International Environmental Studies. He also has a master's degree in journalism, though back then they taught writing on a thing called a typewriter. He's married and has two children.

About this blog

Down To Earth is a place to keep tabs on the environment beat at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. Staff Writer John Richardson will post updates on past news stories, share tidbits and behind-the-story stories, answer questions and get feedback and ideas from you.



Updates
Sign up to be notified when there's a new entry
RSS
Subscribe
Most Recent Comments
Seeing 'ghosts' in the Maine woods (5)
Shellie wrote: Beedlerd, We have had three sightings here on the midcoast of maine last fa...

Coastal communities serious about reducing pesticides (2)
Ron Huber wrote: Another important reason to sharply reduce coastal pesticide use is to prot...

Endangered: Staffing cuts threaten Maine’s wildlife refuges (1)
Virtual Pet wrote: Sorry to hear that there are budget cuts. Wildlife preservation is such an...

Making you think before you flush (1)
the dude wrote: And to think the state is giving a compost operation a hard time for causin...

Group wants to raise profile of storm water (1)
David Mann wrote: In a perfect world, excess storm water and runoff that can't be handled by ...

Could Maine follow China in plastic bag backlash? (6)
David Mann wrote: My hat goes off to Hannaford Bros. for promoting cloth bags. They are avail...