Trump, EPA make good on promise to toss emissions regs

Calling it “a big factor in making our country great,” President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the rollback of the Endangerment Finding, which has allowed presidential administrations to regulate six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride) since 2009.

CALSTART CEO Michael Berube said the EPA’s new finalized rules significantly weaken GHG emissions standards across vehicle classes and undermine the longstanding underpinning allowing the EPA to regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act.

“The U.S. transportation sector accounts for more GHG emissions than any other sector of the economy,” he said. “Today’s EPA announcement ignores the significant progress U.S. industry has made toward a lower-emissions economy and represents a major step back for clean transportation and American competitiveness. Weakening vehicle standards and undermining the Endangerment Finding injects uncertainty into the market at a moment when global competition for clean vehicle leadership is accelerating.”

Coverage also seen in Inside Climate News, Mother Jones, and The Trucker.