Colorado Moves to Adopt Its Own Clean Car Standards

Another state is tackling the fight against climate change as the federal government continues its environmental rollbacks.

As rollbacks on federal clean car standards loom closer, Colorado just became the latest example of a state leading on climate action—today Governor John Hickenlooper announced an executive order that will begin the process of adopting advanced clean car standards. Colorado is home to Denver, which is the 11th most polluted U.S. city for ozone levels, largely due to vehicle emissions.

“With the Trump administration abdicating leadership on cleaning up tailpipe pollution and saving consumers money on gas, states need advanced vehicle standards to ensure their citizens get to drive the cleanest, most affordable cars on the market,” says Noah Long, a senior attorney at NRDC. “This action will help ensure Coloradans still get clean air and cleaner cars.”

Once the new standards are put into place, Colorado will join 13 other states and the District of Columbia—which have adopted clean car rules designed to reduce smog-forming pollutants, particulate matter, and carbon pollution, as well as to help zero-emission vehicle development—as leaders in clean car technology and clean air.

The stakes are high: A recent study indicates that by 2040, Colorado’s clean car standards would save roughly $16 million to $37 million in health care costs, reduce the number of work days lost due to illness from air pollution, and save $260 million a year from long-term damage caused by carbon dioxide emissions.

“It’s up to the states to take action,” says Maria Hendley, the executive director of Conservation Colorado. “Colorado can’t—and won’t—be left behind.”