CALSTART Media Contact: Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@calstart.org, 917-887-0146

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Today, the Environmental Protection Agency released their proposal to dismantle vehicle emissions standards for new light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. For decades, clean vehicles regulations have been essential for providing market certainty, driving technological innovation, and ensuring the global competitiveness of the U.S. transportation sector. In response to this news, CALSTART’s President and CEO, John Boesel, issued the following statement:

“Today’s action by the EPA is a devastating blow to American Jobs and our global competitiveness. This proposal undermines the regulatory certainty that businesses need to plan and invest with confidence, destabilizes the market, and will kill tens of thousands of jobs in the electric vehicle sector—jobs that were created through forward-thinking policies and industry innovation. When this proposal goes through, it could very well undermine new EV and battery plant manufacturing investments in Kansas, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. By rolling back these standards, the EPA is handing the advantage to the oil industry and foreign competitors, further weakening U.S. leadership in the global clean transportation race.

“This move is part of a larger strategy to prevent the U.S. from maintaining its leadership in the global clean transportation technologies market, while stalling critical progress toward reducing emissions and securing a sustainable future for our children. The economic and moral implications of this proposal are unacceptable. By rolling back these standards, the EPA is directly working to dismantle one of the U.S.’s most vital industries at a time when global leadership is within our reach.

“In short, the EPA’s move to rescind vehicle emission standards is a lose-lose proposition that threatens nearly half a million Americans employed in clean transportation. The technology to meet these standards is here and feasible and the transportation industry has been working and planning toward these goals. Our industrial progress must not be hindered.”

BACKGROUND

Transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas pollution in the United States, responsible for approximately one third of total emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Established under the Clean Air Act, these standards have fueled the development of more efficient, zero-emission vehicles, supporting economic growth and job creation. The proposal also challenges the endangerment finding that has underpinned these emission standards. The draft proposal is expected to go through a public comment period and interagency review before being finalized, likely later this year. The agency’s 2009 endangerment rule scientifically determined that new vehicle-related emissions threatened public health and climate stability. The finding was sustained by the courts and served as the foundation for future greenhouse gas regulations including tailpipe emissions standards, which have been instrumental in reducing pollution while accelerating the growth of zero-emission vehicles.

About CALSTART
A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its more than 220 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.