By Kevin Herrera
Daily Press Staff Writer

AUTO ROW With its formidable gas mileage, the popular Prius has helped Toyota become one of the greenest car companies around, but that hasn’t stopped environmentalists from criticizing the auto maker for its stance on emissions.

At a rally on Monday in front of the Santa Monica Toyota dealership, citizens concerned about greenhouse gases and global warming held up picket signs and shouted through a megaphone at passersby in an effort to draw attention to Toyota and the other major auto manufacturers who are trying to block a state law mandating a 30-percent reduction in auto emissions by 2016.

The rally — organized by Plug In America, the Rainforest Action Network and the Global Exchange — was one of several said to be held in cities across the country in an effort to raise awareness about AB 1439, a bill sponsored by former Santa Monica Assemblywoman Fran Pavley that has become a model for other states looking to act where the federal government has not.

The bill, passed in 2002, forced the California Air Resources Board to devise standards to reduce motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. ARB sought public input and adopted regulations in 2004.

It was then that the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers — representing BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche, VW and Toyota — announced it was filing a lawsuit challenging the law, saying that fuel economy standards can only be set by the federal government.

State officials filed a waiver with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2005 that, if granted, would allow them to move forward with the regulations, but so far, the EPA has failed to act.

If the waiver is approved, it would allow other states to adopt California’s strict motor-vehicle emission regulations. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and State Attorney General Jerry Brown have made it clear that if the EPA fails to follow the law and grant the waiver, the state will take the matter to federal court.

“We’re out in front of the dealership because we know that this is where the money comes in,” said Paul Scott, of Plug In America, a group advocating the production of electric vehicles with zero emissions. “If you attack the money supply, they listen.”

Scott said that in 2005 when Toyota was destroying its Rav4 EVs, Plug In America, then known as DontCrush.com, held a similar rally in front of the dealership, and the next day, he and other owners of the cars found themselves in Toyota’s headquarters in Torrance and owners were allowed to keep their cars.

Scott reported the effort saved hundreds of vehicles.

“They’ve listened before, so we’re hoping that this will have a similar impact,” Scott said.

Representatives from Toyota and the automakers association said that the federal government is in charge of regulating emissions and fuel economy, not the state. If that were the case, there’s the possibility that every state would adopt their own, unique standards creating a “hodgepodge” of regulations that would make it impossible for automakers to remain in business.

“Automakers support increasing fuel economy standards and reducing emissions, but we understand that in order for us to really meet rigorous demands and meet consumer needs, there needs to be a comprehensive, national approach,” said Wade Newton, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

“It can’t be a handful of states.”

Environmentalists said it wouldn’t be a handful of states. California’s bill is seen as a model and, therefore, would be adopted by other states, setting a new standard.

A spokesman for Toyota said the company invests roughly $25 million a day in research and development, trying to come up with the next generation of eco-friendly rides.

“Over the past 10 years, our cars have consumed 11 billion fewer gallons of gas than if we would have merely met (current) standards,” said Xavier Dominicis, spokesman for Toyota.

kevinh@smdp.com