Clean air at a reasonable price

Journal Article · · Issues in Science and Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5203626

Kinnear, J W

In 1990, Congress passed extensive and comprehensive amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970. These amendments, the result of months of negotiation and compromise, address a wide array of air quality issues, including emissions from power plants and factories, as well as from automobiles. The goal of reducing air pollution is an important one, which my company and responsible business leaders support. But there are many ways of doing this, and some cost far less than others. In terms of cost-effectiveness, the legislation aimed at reducing tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks is deeply flawed. Regrettably, Congress, under heavy pressure from a variety of groups, adopted the most costly means to achieve improved air quality: changes in how gasoline is made. Congress acted without first determining how expensive reformulated fuels would be, how much they would reduce emissions, or how cost-effective they would be compared to other possible measures. Congress even refused to wait a few months for the results of a comprehensive joint auto-oil-industry study that would have provided a solid data base for analyzing these issues. Now, much of those data have become available. And they show that the reformulated fuel mandates - if fully implemented - would be a costly mistake. Requiring the new fuels could raise the pretax wholesale cost of gasoline by 25% or more, a price that ultimately would be paid by motorists. Environmentalists don't worry about this because they want higher prices as a way to stimulate conservation. But the US public has made it clear that they do not want higher fuel prices.

• OSTI ID: 5203626
• Journal Information: Issues in Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Issues in Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN 0748-5492; ISSN ISTEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AMENDMENTS
ECONOMICS
ENFORCEMENT
LAWS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION LAWS
POLLUTION SOURCES
US CLEAN AIR ACT