New law drives clean cars ahead

By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill Tuesday that will make it easier for Mainers to get their hands on popular environmentally friendly cars.

The new law requires car manufacturers to offer more clean-car models in Maine by 2009.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine had led the charge to get the new law enacted, citing cars and trucks as the largest source of smog, haze, soot and global warming.

"We're really very excited about this project and what this really means for clean air in Maine," said Sue Jones, energy project director for the Council.

Baldacci signed the bill at Lee Chevrolet on State Street, alongside environmental groups that pushed for the bill.

"For Maine consumers, this rule will mean more-efficient and cleaner cars available sooner," Baldacci said, according to a statement released by his press office.

"With the price of gasoline near $2 per gallon, these cars can save Maine citizens thousands of dollars," the governor's statement said.

The bill allows automakers to use different car types and models to meet the goals. By 2009, cleaner cars would represent about 10 percent of new cars sold in Maine, according to the Natural Resources Council.

Hybrid cars, which use some of the combusted gas to produce electricity that is then stored, produce up to 90 percent less air pollution and are 30 percent more efficient than standard cars.

Automakers now make 27 conventional cleaner-car models and four hybrid models.

According to the Natural Resources Council, six other states in the Northeast are in the process of adopting cleaner-car goals. By adopting new laws, these states will get cleaner-car models before states that do not adopt such standards.

Susan M. Cover
Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.