Gov. Gregoire�s statement on states� ability to set emission standards

For Immediate Release: January 26, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire issued the following statement today on President Obama�s decision to ask the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider allowing the states to set their own standards for automobile emissions:

�I applaud this move by President Obama to address emission standards, a change I�ve been advocating since 2005. This decision will help protect the planet as we work with the federal government to tackle one of our most pressing environmental problems.

�Motor vehicles produce more than half of the greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state. Making investments now to protect our health and environment will cost us far less in the long run.

�I urge the EPA to act quickly to address the President�s request to give Washington and other states the ability to set their own vehicle emission standards. It is past time to clean up auto emissions and do our part to reduce global warming and improve the health of our citizens.�