Steve Hinchman, staff attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation in Maine, says this would force automakers to develop cleaner versions of most cars.
Mr. HINCHMAN: We've chosen the stricter California program because it's the only policy option available to us that we can use to reduce pollution emissions from the transportation sector, which is the most polluting and fastest-growing problem in terms of air quality in the Northeast.
Mr. STEVE HINCHMAN (Conversation Law Foundation): And as consumers realize, they have a choice to buy a clean car that's 20 to 50 percent more efficient, we're going to hit a tipping point where it will no longer make economic sense for Detroit to continue making the dirty version of the car.