Judge favors state over automakers

September 13, 2007

U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions delivered a stunning blow to auto manufacturing companies Wednesday, establishing the right of states to set their own standards for how much green house gas emissions cars could produce - and pushing Vermont again to the forefront in a national fight over who regulates such pollutants.

"Under the Bush administration on a range of environmental issues leadership has had to come from the states. Vermont and a number of other states have been willing to step up and exercise our authority" said Attorney General William Sorrell, whose office defended the state emissions standards.

James Moore, an advocate for the environmental group Vermont Public Interest Research Group, agreed.

"As our federal government has turned a blind eye to the climate crisis states like Vermont are forced to take the lead and today Judge Sessions has protected our right to do so," Moore said in a statement.

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