20 U.S. states back restoring California strict emissions rules (updated)

Pacific Health Care Organization

19/05/2022 22:42

(Adds more details, background, comment from California
governor)
    By David Shepardson
    WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - California and 19 other U.S.
states and the District of Columbia on Thursday backed efforts
by President Joe Biden to restore the most populous state's
ability to set its own strict tailpipe and zero-emission vehicle
standards.
    Last week, a group of 17 states including Ohio and Texas
filed a challenge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
decision to restore the authority that was withdrawn under
former President Donald Trump. Seventeen other states have
agreed https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-05/%C2%A7177_states_05132022_NADA_sales_r2_ac.pdf
 to adopt California's tailpipe emissions rules and 15 have
backed its zero-emission vehicle requirements.
    Governor Gavin Newsom said California would "stand with the
federal government in defending against these radical efforts to
upend ... California’s clean transportation future."
    The EPA in March reinstated a waiver under the Clear Air Act
awarded to California in 2013. The agency also rejected a
Trump-era decision to bar other states from adopting
Sacramento's tailpipe emission standards.
    The states, including New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois
and joined by Los Angeles and New York City, said the EPA waiver
withdrawal was unprecedented after more than 50 years of
approvals.
    Attorney General Eric Schmitt of Missouri, who opposes the
strict California rules, said last week the Biden administration
gave "California the go-ahead to set ‘green’ manufacturing
standards, which in reality, crush the average American who is
already facing astronomical prices at the pump."   
    Biden has set a goal of 50% of new-vehicle sales being
electric or plug-in electric by 2030, but has not endorsed a
date to phase out gasoline-vehicle sales.
    In December, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration separately rescinded Trump's action seeking to
bar California from setting tailpipe emission rules conflicting
with U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements.
    The EPA in December finalized new vehicle emissions rules
restoring targets undone by Trump and requiring a 28.3%
reduction in vehicle emissions through 2026.

 (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))