David J. Hayes: State Attorneys General Will Sue to Maintain Car Standards to Protect Public Health and the Environment and Save Consumers Billions in Gas Costs

Washington, DC – David J. Hayes, Executive Director of the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law and former Interior Deputy Secretary in the Obama and Clinton Administrations, released the following statement in response to today’s EPA hearing in Fresno, California on the Trump Administration’s proposal to revoke California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act and weaken emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks covering model years 2021 through 2026:

“I applaud California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for testifying in today’s EPA hearing in Fresno against EPA’s proposal to freeze vehicle emissions standards and revoke California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act. The EPA’s proposal cannot withstand legal scrutiny. There is no authority for EPA to pull back an already-granted waiver that authorizes California to implement the fuel economy rule. The EPA also cannot establish a compelling basis to overturn the rule. The proposed revisions would cost consumers $200 billion in higher gas costs. They also would generate 16 to 37 million metric tons of additional climate change-causing carbon pollution and significant increases in other pollutants that cause asthma and other health effects.

“It is fitting, in that regard, that Attorney General Becerra testified in Fresno, a city in the San Joaquin Valley in which 26 percent of school-aged children already suffer from asthma. The Administration’s proposal would increase these already-unacceptable health risks.

“Finally, while saluting California and its 39 million residents for its continued leadership in addressing automobile pollution and confronting climate change, we note that 12 states and the District of Columbia – representing 74 million additional people – have elected under Section 177 to stand with California and its Clean Air Act waiver. The attorneys general for these states will be joining with many others in insisting that EPA and DOT stay the course and not roll back vehicle emission standards.”

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About the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center:
The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan academic center at NYU School of Law. The Center is dedicated to working towards a healthy and safe environment, guided by inclusive and equitable principles. The Center studies and supports the work of state attorneys general (AGs) in defending, enforcing, and promoting strong laws and policies in the areas of climate, environmental justice, environmental protection, and clean energy.