Florida advances tougher auto emission limits

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida environmental rule-makers voted on Tuesday to adopt California's toughened auto-emission standards in hopes of reducing heat-trapping gases linked to global warming, the governor said.

The Florida Environmental Regulation Commission in Tallahassee approved the plan, which was proposed by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist. It still must be approved by the Florida Legislature, which convenes in March.

The plan would require a 23-percent cut in tailpipe emissions from new cars by 2012 and a 30-percent cut by 2016. It would not require every vehicle to meet that mark, but would apply to the average of all cars sold in the state.

"The new rule sets Florida on the right path toward significantly reducing our greenhouse-gas emissions and protecting the natural beauty that is so important to the Sunshine State's economy," Crist said in a statement.

The federal Clean Air Act allows other states to adopt California's tough standards. Twelve have already adopted them and Florida is among six with pending proposals to do so.

The Florida vote comes as struggling U.S. auto makers are pressing the U.S. Congress for $25 billion in emergency aid on top of the $25 billion already approved to help Detroit retool to produce more fuel-efficient cars.

Detroit has traditionally fought government efforts to mandate cleaner cars, but Democratic congressional leaders could insist on lowered emission standards as part of any bailout plan. President-elect Barack Obama campaigned on a promise to push for greater fuel efficiency and reduced emissions to help ease global warming.

Florida is the nation's fourth most-populous state and proponents of the measure estimate that 40 percent of its heat-trapping carbon dioxide comes from cars and light trucks.

Low-lying Florida is surrounded by water on three sides and is especially vulnerable to rising seas which have been blamed on global warming.