In yet another controversial move for the Trump administration, the EPA is set to roll back emission standards set by the Obama administration. This is only the most recent of political maneuvers by a seemingly more business-focused EPA. However, California is set to challenge this.
The old legislation sought to ensure that by 2025 all cars and trucks sold in the United States would get at least 50 miles per gallon. The law doubled then-current emission requirements when it was introduced in 2012 and has been influential in reducing the United States’ overall carbon footprint. The regulations were part of a larger project to reduce the impact of the entirety of the United States’ motor fleet.
California plans to challenge the EPA’s decision and stick with the less lenient, more environmentally friendly regulations established by the previous administration. The Clean Air Act currently allows the state to set its own air quality and emissions laws, and California has consistently been setting standards higher than the rest of the country. If the more stringent laws prove successful, they are often adopted nationally. The removal of this authority would require an act of Congress.
The move is seen as a boon for the auto industry, which the Trump administration has been attempting to invigorate. The EPA argues that the rollback will not only allow for manufacturers to sell more cars, but that it will also allow consumers to buy more, as they will cost less. However, decreased mileage means consumers will need to buy more fuel, perhaps spending the same amount or even more money than they would have saved.
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt says that the older laws were not “appropriate” and hopes California will fall into line. The agency will attempt to have the state follow their decisions, and lawmakers are preparing for a battle. Currently, Scott Pruitt is under examination for a violation of ethics, regarding the rental of a bedroom in a house in Washington D.C., partially owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist.