U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty halted New York City’s plan to turn its yellow taxis green by 2012, ruling that regulation of fuel emissions standards fall under federal authority, not the city’s authority, Reuters reports.
The city said it was considering an appeal. Previously, the city had mandated that NYC fleet operator to use vehicles that can get 25 miles per gallon or more in city driving, a target now met by hybrids and clean diesel cars.
Judge Crotty also ruled that implementation of the regulations now would be costly to the taxi industry.