Posted on 11/27/2001 1:09:29 PM PST by expose
Edited on 04/13/2004 1:38:39 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Starting next year, drivers of relatively new cars could see those little "check engine" lights illuminating the dashboard turn into an expensive nightmare, thanks to a new system of emissions-control mandates the Environmental Protection Agency is set to unleash on the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at usatoday.com ...
My wife's car is a 2001, so we can't escape it from her end.
Oh yeah, I have heard there is an "OBD I" and an "OBD II" system.
Presumably OBD II is newer - it's on my wife's car.
Apr. 24, 2001
By JOHN McELHENNY, Associated Press Writer
BOSTON (AP) _ Massachusetts will become the first state to limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants under clean-air rules set to go into effect in June.
The new standards unveiled Monday by acting Gov. Jane Swift also will limit mercury emissions and require deep cuts in emissions of sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain, and smog-causing nitrogen oxide.
The regulations will apply to the state's six dirtiest power plants, which produce 40 percent of the electricity used in Massachusetts.
"This sets the bar for any other state that is doing power plant clean ups," said Conrad Schneider, a spokesman for Clean Air Task Force, a national environmental advocacy group that monitors power plant emissions. "And it sets the bar for the national debate for what the level of reduction should be in federal legislation."
Proposals to limit carbon dioxide emissions surged onto the national scene last month when Swift's fellow Republican, President Bush, reversed a campaign pledge to push for carbon dioxide power plant limits.
"He and I, in this case, came to a different conclusion," Swift said as she announced the new Massachusetts regulations.
The new regulations would require
Power plants would be required to cut average carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent under the new regulations. Many scientists believe such emissions are causing the Earth to warm significantly.
Efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions have often presented a political challenge for state officials because the reductions have little direct impact locally.
"I know that climate change is a global problem _ but that does not mean we should sit around and wait for global solutions," said state Environmental Affairs Secretary Bob Durand.
A spokesman for the Competitive Power Coalition of New England, an industry group, said the strict rules would lead to higher electric rates and increase the risk of outages. Swift dismissed that prediction, noting that several new power plants were planned for the region.
___ On the Net:
EPA global warming site: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming
Critical, operative, and not-to-be-overlooked language from their site:
The agency is requesting comments from the public about this view, and about all the proposed standards.
To improve the final rule, the EPA will refine the cost benefit analysis it conducted in connection with this proposed rule. The agency will take into consideration the findings of this analysis as it makes final decisions on standards, phase in periods, and the scope of coverage.
If your state exempts older vehicles, I would take them up on that offer!
A really nice older car with 100,000 miles can be had for a song! One or two thousand dollars will buy a comfortable, well maintained, good running, large vehicle that will do everything you need it to do. Of course, you are on the higher-maintenance end of the life cycle, but that is not such a big deal.
Think of it this way, take that $250 ($350? $400?) a month car payment, and think how much routine maintenance you can do with that kind of money. I found a local guy to work on my 15-year-old wagon, and told him that I wanted him to keep it running forever, provided he could do it on a certain budget. Once every couple of months, the car goes in and he does about $400 worth of work. The car is beautiful, runs flawlessly, and never has been a lick of trouble. He even gives me a loaner on the days he has my car! He tells me that I can keep this car forever, if I want to. I just might.
OK, now pull out your car insurance bill. If you have a car payment, your loan holder will require you to have to have a fairly low deductible collision policy. Those are murderously expensive, and don't even cover you against what you really need to be insured against (i.e. large liability losses). In my state (NJ) most new car owners pay more for collision insurance coverage than I pay for my enhanced maintenance package. I don't have to bother with collision, because the book value of my car is so low, that I wouldn't get much for it anyway. I put some money into comprehensive insurance, because if I am in a car accident, I will be more concerned about losing my house than my car!
My biggest problem is the semi-annual emissions inspection. However, the car is well maintained, so I have had no problem so far. My current sticker is good for another 23 months, so I will have my old car for at least that long.
Plus, when you are rolling down the street, what really catches your eye, an immaculate twenty-five-year-old BMW 2001, or a three-year-old Pontiac Grand Prix, that is already beginning to rust?
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