Background

A threat to our environment: Air pollution from cars creates smog and acid rain, obscuring views and eroding the health of ecosystems from Kittery to Bar Harbor. Autos are also the largest single source of the emissions that cause global warming, which has the potential to totally change the face of our state.

A threat to our health: Tailpipe emissions contribute to a statewide health epidemic. The EPA recently determined that 108 towns and cities fail to meet air quality standards and, in 2002, Maine had 17 bad air days. In addition, tailpipe emissions are the largest source of airborne carcinogens like benzene.

The Cleaner Cars program: Cleaner cars, such as gas-electric hybrids and advanced-technology cars, average 90 percent less air pollution, and 30 percent more miles to the gallon. Our neighbors in New York, New Jersey and all the other New England states except New Hampshire have already implemented the Cleaner Cars program, which ensures that cleaner cars are widely available and will represent about 11 percent of new cars sold by 2009.

No more waiting: Automakers have been dragging their feet on manufacturing and sending Maine the cleanest cars available, favoring larger profits from bigger vehicles.

Even with only three hybrid models on the market, demand for hybrids is outstripping supply, with consumers waiting six months or more in Maine.

Automakers will continue to drag their feet unless we enact the program, which would prioritize Maine for getting cleaner cars, cutting the long lines for hybrids.

View in Acadia on clear day vs. a hazy day: