Sacramento – The California Air Resources Board (ARB) today released its draft proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and light trucks by nearly 30 percent.

"The proposal protects public health and conforms to the language and spirit of AB 1493 (Pavley), which requires the ARB to limit emissions from California passenger cars that contribute to global warming," said ARB Executive Officer Catherine Witherspoon. "Staff will accept public comments until July 7. Those comments will be taken into account in the final draft proposal, scheduled to be heard by the Board in September," she added.

The staff proposal identifies methods that can be used by automakers to improve the performance of car engines, transmissions and drivetrains to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the maximum extent possible. The proposal analyzes a series of technology packages that automakers could use to reduce those gases. The technology packages are aligned in sets that best take advantage of the natural synergy that exists between some technologies.

ARB staff estimates the average costs of technology packages for the regulation's first phase, scheduled for model years 2009 through 2011, to range from $241 for light duty passenger cars to $326 for big pickups and SUVs. Average costs for the rule's second phase for model years between 2012 and 2014 are expected to be $539 for light duty passenger cars to $851 for heavier vehicles.

The draft proposal was crafted after a number of workshops where experts in the fields of automotive design, emissions control systems, as well as those with expertise in global climate change were able to exchange ideas on the best ways of designing cars to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

The draft proposal will be available for public comment until July 7. After that date, ARB staff will revise the proposal to take into account those public comments. The final staff proposal will be released in early August. The proposal can be found on the ARB website here .