In a stunning release today, the American Lung Association of California announced that over $142 billion dollars in health costs could be saved by converting the entire California motor vehicle fleet from gasoline vehicles to zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) technologies in the 2010-2030 timeframe. The current fleet of cars costs the state close to $7.4 billion dollars in hospitalizations, premature deaths and illnesses. From the article,
“The study, conducted by TIAX LLC, a consulting firm specializing in transportation and alternative fuels research, also found that California can avoid at least .2 billion per year in health costs from reduction of dangerous particulate matter by converting the motor vehicle fleet to ZEVs instead of relying on the lowest emitting gasoline technologies. This
reduction in particulates means that California would annually avoid 300 cases of premature death, over 260 cases of chronic bronchitis, over 7,000 asthma attacks and more than 18,000 cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms by moving to ZEV technology.”
The ALA prepared the study in advance of the California Air Resource Board moving to weaken the current “gold standard” program requirement from 25,000 to 2,500 zero-emission vehicles in the 2012-2014 timeframe. Members of the organization will urge the ARB to reconsider approving such a low volume of ZEVs. “The Air Resources Board is at a critical juncture right now,” said ALA Senior Policy Director Bonnie Holmes-Gen. “The Board has a tremendous opportunity to set a bold new vision for the ZEV program that includes strengthening the program to fully support the state’s goals for both healthy air and global warming reduction.”
It’s amazing that we’re still fighting laws that seek to further improve our health and environment. The hearing on the new amendment will take place next week, March 27th. For more information, jump here.
