The Bush administration has told seventeen states across the country they cannot impose their own standards for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The California-led effort seeks to cut vehicles’ carbon dioxide emissions 30 percent by 2016. But on Wednesday, Environmental Protection Agency head Stephen Johnson overruled the proposals and said they’re trumped by federal authority. The Washington Post reports Johnson’s decision came over the objection of his lawyers and policy staff. In a briefing, aides told Johnson the EPA would likely lose in court if California sued to protect its emissions standards. Aides also told Johnson the “EPA is almost certain to win” if he didn’t intervene and allowed automakers to sue California instead. The decision came just hours after President Bush signed the new bipartisan energy bill. Bush hailed the law at a White House ceremony.

President Bush: “The bill I sign today takes a significant step, because it will require fuel producers to use at least 36 billion gallons of biofuel in 2022. This is nearly a five-fold increase over current levels. It will help us diversify our energy supplies and reduce our dependence on oil. It’s an important part of this legislation.”

The new energy law requires car manufacturers to meet fuel-economy standards of thirty-five miles per gallon for both cars and trucks. The California standard is higher: forty-three miles per gallon for cars and some light trucks. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says states will go to court to reverse the EPA order. Environmental groups blasted the EPA’s decision. Paul Cort of Earthjustice said, “This is not about protecting a national policy to address global warming. This is about the White House protecting industry cronies from state leaders who actually want to fight global warming.”