PRESS RELEASES

HOUSTON MAYOR BILL WHITE SUPPORTS LEGISLATIVE MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN LOW-EMISSION VEHICLE STANDARDS

November 30, 2006 -- Houston Mayor Bill White today joined state Sen. Rodney Ellis and environmental advocates in support of Senate Bill 124 which would require the Texas Environmental Quality Commission to implement a low-emission vehicle program consistent with the Low-Emission Vehicle standards adopted in other major states.

"The Houston region needs aggressive action to reduce ozone and the air toxics we have identified as the highest public health risks, and adopting tighter auto emissions and fuel economy standards will help us do that and meet federal clean air requirements," said Mayor White. "It is in our own interest as well as the national interest. Adding the purchasing power within Texas to that of other large-population states will help drive down the unit costs of the higher-standard vehicles and help us reduce dependence on imported oil."

The bill would require Texas to follow a cleaner cars program like those currently in place in 10 states. It would include tighter limits on tailpipe and evaporative emissions of several air pollutants. It also would include a provision ensuring a certain percentage of cars sold include advanced technology, such as hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles, to further reduce emissions. Vehicles with reduced global warming emissions also help consumers save money at the gas pump.