Federal officials have cleared the state of California to impose strict greenhouse gas limits on new cars, trucks, and SUV’s that more than a dozen other states can follow immediately and that will form the basis of new nationwide rules in 2012. A major reversal of Bush administration policy, the EPA’s ruling was cheered by California politicians and national environmental groups as a breakthrough in curbing carbon dioxide.

This week’s waiver highlights the state’s long-standing tradition of environmental leadership, said Roland Hwang, transportation program director for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“When you look at California’s leadership across the board on energy and global warming, it provides almost a perfect template for the activity going on in D.C.,” Hwang said. “What’s happening out here with Tesla is what should be happening in Detroit.”

The waiver means that California can impose the emissions standards – the nation’s first aimed at reducing greenhouse gases – beginning with the 2009 model year and increase them annually, with a goal of achieving a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases in 2016 compared with 2002 levels.