Team Obama May Not Grant Ca. Emissions Waiver

Will the Obama administration grant California’s wish to toughen auto-emission standards? It may not be a sure thing. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday she is “not sure” the Obama administration will let California regulate automobile greenhouse-gas emissions and said she believes the administration would prefer a single national standard governing the industry’s fuel economy and emissions levels. Ms. Granholm, who was at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday for a conference on climate change, was responding to a reporter’s question about how a decision by the administration to allow California to regulate automobile greenhouse gas emissions would affect Michigan, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and is home to ailing auto giants General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler LLC. Automakers reported dismal February sales numbers again Tuesday. “I’m not sure they will,” Ms. Granholm said. “I think there’s an interest in making sure there’s a unified standard,” she said. Ms. Granholm’s comments are significant because she is a close political ally of Mr. Obama...Environmental Capital