CO2 vs. Public Interest

The Burlington Free Press has yet another story about the Vermont auto emissions decision made by the Federal court last week. And, as in the earlier stories,  Freeps is still trying to characterize the debate as one between the evil auto manufacturers and the health and well being of Vermonters. As usual the truth is a little more complicated. To get a better idea of what the argument is all about consider the ‘ball’ the two sides have been volleying back and forth – COST.

The two sides are at odds over the financial viability of making cars that meet the new emissions standards. The State says the manufactures will figure out some way to make them. The manufactures say maybe – but at what cost? Now, the really important thing to understand is that the cost ‘ball’ they're bouncing back and forth is ... you and me. We’re the ones who’ll be paying extra for the cars and the manufactures know that limits exist to what people will pay for a car. Beyond certain limits the cars become unaffordable or undesirable.

Ironically, the State knows better than anybody what the real effects of the emissions standards are. A few months back Minga Dana of VTRANS told the Rutland Region Transportation Council that the planned purchase of six new buses was delayed because the new emissions-compliant buses cost $60,000 more each than last year's models and VTRANS hadn’t budgeted for the price increase. I personally confirmed this seemingly unbelievable price difference with a service manager for CVPS who claims they’re facing similar issues. So, VTRANS  did what anybody would have done -- went shopping for last year’s model. Unfortunately they where only able to find two model year holdovers at a dealer in NH so they have to postpone the purchase of the remaining buses until more funds can be allocated.

Clearly there’s more to this debate than stingy car companies and CO2. It’s also about how much the car companies can afford to invest in low-emissions technologies and how much we’re willing to pay for them.  It’s also about ignorant legislators who somehow think corporate profit motives conflict with public interest.

 

Comments

[Gregg Ballou]

I have no connection or personal knowledge of the folks below. Just noting that the free market is already trying to produce green choice here in VT.
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