SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2003)—The California legislature has passed a bill requiring the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to implement a statewide energy efficiency program for replacement tires by July 1, 2008.
The energy efficiency standards must be technically feasible and cost-effective, and must not adversely affect tire safety or tire life, according to the bill's language.
The California Senate passed the bill with several amendments Sept. 4 to placate tire industry opposition, and the California Assembly—which originally passed the bill June 4—concurred with the Senate amendments Sept. 8, sending the bill to Gov. Gray Davis for signing.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association is taking a neutral stand on the bill as passed, according to Ann Wilson, RMA senior vice president for government affairs. “We recognized that there was a political will to pass this bill, so we worked with its authors and sponsors to reflect the current status of knowledge about rolling resistance,” Ms. Wilson said.