House Republican Press Release

May 3, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Stripp Supports Clean Car Bill

Measure would Educate Car Buyers About Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A bill that would educate new car buyers about the impact on the environment of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles and encourage more people to buy clean cars received final legislative approval Wednesday by the state House of Representatives, said state Representative John E. Stripp, a cosponsor of the legislation.

The bill (Senate Bill 660), which received overwhelming bipartisan support, was sent to Governor M. Jodi Rell to be signed into law.

“Beginning with the 2009 model year, all new motor vehicles sold in Connecticut will have to be labeled with greenhouse gas stickers. The stickers will provide a greenhouse gas score comparing the new vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions with those of all vehicle models of the same model year and the average greenhouse gas score for vehicles within the same vehicle class, enabling potential buyers to determine which cars are environmentally friendly and which ones are less so,” said Representative Stripp, R-135^th District.

“The bill also requires the state to establish a public education program about the labeling requirement that includes information about the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles and the impact the vehicles people buy have on the amount of greenhouse gases vehicles discharge,” Representative Stripp said. “It’s a significant step forward in educating the car buying public about greenhouse gases and the role motor vehicle emissions play in global warming.”

The federal Environmental Protection Agency rates cars on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 representing the lowest amount of greenhouse gases emitted. The score is determined by the vehicle's estimated fuel economy and its fuel type. The average greenhouse gas score for 2006 is 5, Representative Stripp said.