Obama to grant California auto emission waiver

The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama will move to grant California's request for a waiver to implement the toughest restrictions on automobile tailpipe emissions in the nation. Thirteen other states have since adopted the same law. Together they account for half the market for autos. From the NYT:

The California law, which was originally meant to take effect in the 2009 model year, requires automakers to cut emissions by nearly a third by 2016, four years ahead of the federal timetable. The result would be an increase in fuel efficiency in the American car and light truck fleet to roughly 35 miles per gallon from the current average of 27.