Republican attorneys general file lawsuit against White House and California over regulations on gas-powered trucks

A group of Republican attorneys general has taken legal action against the Biden administration and California over new emissions limits for trucks. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is leading the group of GOP attorneys general who filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to overturn an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting truck emissions. A separate lawsuit against California claims a phased-in ban on internal-combustion trucks is unconstitutional and will negatively impact the U.S. economy. Hilgers stated that the EPA and California rules will have devastating effects on the trucking and logistics industry, increase prices for customers, and harm jobs in Nebraska and across the country. He also mentioned the lack of trucking charging stations in Nebraska and the challenges of transitioning the industry to electric-based infrastructure. EPA officials argue that the emissions standards will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large sources. The new EPA rules, to be effective for model years 2027 through 2032, are expected to prevent up to 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next three decades. The restrictions could particularly benefit around 72 million people living near freight routes with high levels of air pollution. A spokesperson for the EPA declined to comment on the legal challenge, citing pending litigation. The California rules being challenged by Republican attorneys general would prohibit the sale of diesel-fueled big rigs and buses in California starting in 2036. California’s Air Resources Board did not immediately respond to requests for comment. California has been proactive in reducing fossil fuel use, implementing rules to phase out gas-powered vehicles. Other states and industries are resisting these efforts. In 2022, another group of GOP-led states challenged California’s strict emissions standards, with the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that the states failed to prove the standards would raise costs for gas-powered vehicles. Numerous states have joined Nebraska’s actions against the EPA and California, showing ongoing opposition to the emissions limits.

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