August 01, 2018 02:09 PM UTC

Colorado Municipal Officials: Stop the Trump Administration's Attack on Clean Cars & Clean Air

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• by: COCleanCars

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

On Tuesday, Colorado elected municipal officials, agency directors and community leaders joined together to oppose the Trump Administration’s expected rollback of the clean car standards – which could come as soon as this week.  Speakers condemned plans by the Trump Administration to reverse the clean car standards and attack states’ authority to protect their citizens from harmful tailpipe pollution – an unprecedented violation of public health, air quality, and common-sense standards that will harm communities across Colorado.

 Speakers also thanked Governor John Hickenlooper for announcing that Colorado will exercise its right to join the more than one-third of the nation’s auto market in becoming a clean car state. Doing so won’t just protect public health; it also will benefit Colorado’s economy and the air quality in cities like Westminster, Golden, Denver, and Lakewood. Many of these communities have municipal sustainability standards, including clean air goals that would be harmed by the rollback of clean cars standards.

 For a video of the press conference, click HERE.

 “As a field engineer and a mom, I know that the clean car standards are important to my family and our community here in Lakewood. Not only do they lead to cleaner air, they also save us money at the pump. That is something that matters now and will make the future brighter for communities across our state,” said Lakewood City Councilmember Dana Gutwein.

 “We need to remember that policies made at the federal level impact communities across our country. Rolling back the clean car standards will make it harder for cities like Westminster and Lakewood to have clean air and to fight climate change. We must protect the progress we made, and that means leaving the clean car standards in place,” said Westminster City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Temp Maria De Cambra.

 “Colorado moms know what matters for our families – healthy kids. In order to keep our children healthy, we need clean car standards that reduce air pollution,” said Jen Clanahan, Head Mom at Colorado Moms Know Best.

 “Colorado can be a leader in protecting public health by pushing back against the administration’s ill-advised rollback of the clean car standards,” said Elizabeth Babcock, Manager of Air, Water and Climate for City and County of Denver. “That is why Governor Hickenlooper’s recent announcement that Colorado will look to exercise its authority under the Clean Air Act to adopt stronger tailpipe pollution standards is a win for our communities, and a win for clean air and water.”

 “The clean car standards not only save us money but are one of the most effective policies we have on the books to fight climate change. That is why communities across Colorado are expressing their support for better mileage standards, less pollution, and more consumer choice on vehicles,” said Executive Director of Colorado Communities for Climate Action, and former Mayor of Golden, Jacob Smith.

 Speakers also highlighted the pocketbook savings of the clean cars standards currently in place. If these standards are left unchanged, the average Colorado family will save $2,700 at the gas pump over the life of their vehicle. The state itself has saved over $550 million due to these strong clean car standards.

 Speakers further highlighted how rolling back fuel efficiency standards will allow automakers to make dirtier cars that pollute the air and harm our health. According to the American Lung Association, over 450,000 children and adults suffer from asthma in Colorado.

 Speakers concluded by calling on the administration to maintain these popular and successful clean car standards, which are the some of the most effective policies we have on the books to reduce carbon pollution from vehicles and fight climate change.