Car Show to Display 'Green' Vehicles
The UA's Motor Pool began using alternative fuel in 2006, fueling vehicles with a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. One of the Motor Pool's vehicles will be included in Wednesday's car show.
Students will be educating the public about "green" cars and a program that could bring firmer vehicle emissions practices to Arizona.
Don’t expect chrome wheels, racing stripes, designer and decorative leather seats, low-riders or classic models in the car show that will be held on the University of Arizona Mall on Wednesday.
The show, coordinated by Students for Arizona Public Interest Research Group, or PIRG, is less about what’s on the outside and more about what’s inside vehicles today.
The event is promoting electric, natural gas and hybrid vehicles and is supported by several UA student organizations, including ECOalition. At the same time, the students will be gathering support for the “Clean Cars for Arizona” program.
The program, which several other states have either adopted or are considering, would establish limits on emissions and call for an increased reliance on hybrid-electric and energy-efficient technologies.
If approved, the program would become effective in 2010 and supporters of the effort say the program would help reduce problems associated with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma.
The Clean Air Act allows states to opt for more strict vehicle emissions regulations if experiencing problems with air quality. Those who coordinated Wednesday’s event, who will also be collecting signatures, will be at the State Capitol on March 3 where a public hearing on the program will be held.
“We want to take a visual image to say that the people of Southern Arizona care about this issue,” said Zoe O’Herin, campaign coordinator for Students for Arizona PIRG, an environmental and consumer activist group.
An executive order Gov. Janet Napolitano signed in 2006 supporting the reduction of emissions noted that emissions rose by 56 percent in Arizona during the period between 1990 and 2005.
Numerous reports have indicated that adverse effects of global warming include the melting of the polar ice caps, higher average temperatures in certain regions and more erratic storms.
But not everyone agrees that climate change will be as disastrous as what has been presented and some skeptics challenge certain beliefs about global warming.
Yet a number of states – such as California, Washington and New Hampshire – continue to try to curb emissions.
At the UA, students have spent weeks on the UA Mall handing out information about the Clean Cars program and gathering support for the effort.
On Wednesday, they will be on the UA mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. showcasing the cars and informing others about the program. The cars either belong to the UA or to private owners.
“By showing the cars, people can actually see the type of new technology is available and ready to be used,” said Collen Donovan, the event coordinator and a UA anthropology major. Also, the group hopes to get at least 350 signature for the display.
Kirsten H. Engel, a professor in the James E. Rogers College of Law and an environmental law expert, is expected to attend the event and speak, said O’Herin, a UA political science and philosphy senior.
“We’re hoping some people will see us and want to give their signatures, volunteer for this particular issue and go up to Phoenix to meet with legislators,” O’Herin added.
“We’re trying to draw the most support through this event.”
et cetera
- What | Green Car Show
- When | Feb. 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where | UA Mall
- Extra Info |
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