The American Petroleum Institute (API), along with major oil companies including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, has filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce emissions from cars and light trucks and promote electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new tailpipe emission rules in March, which are expected to compel automakers to produce and sell more electric vehicles in order to meet the new standards. The administration estimates that electric vehicles will make up around 56% of all car sales between 2030 and 2032.
The API argues that the EPA has overstepped its authority by introducing regulations that would effectively eliminate most new gas cars and traditional hybrids from the U.S. market within the next decade. Ryan Meyers, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of API, emphasized the need to protect American consumers, manufacturing workers, and energy security from what they view as government interference.
The lawsuit was filed in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, with additional support from the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and several auto dealerships. The farm groups rely on gas-powered vehicles to support the corn-ethanol industry, and they believe that the EPA’s focus on electric vehicles disregards the benefits of corn-ethanol in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
This legal action follows a similar lawsuit filed in April by Republican attorneys general from 25 states who sought to block the same regulations. These regulations are among the most significant environmental rules introduced under President Joe Biden, who has made addressing climate change a key priority during his presidency. However, they have also strained his relationship with the United Auto Workers, who have been hesitant to fully embrace the transition to electric vehicles.
Although the U.S. auto industry has largely supported the new tailpipe standards, Biden has faced opposition from workers in industrial states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, who are concerned that the shift to electric vehicles could jeopardize their jobs. Former President Donald Trump also voiced his opposition to electric vehicles and vowed to reverse the new standards during his campaign.
The lawsuit filed by the API and its allies highlights the ongoing tension between the oil industry and advocates for clean energy and environmental sustainability. As the transition to electric vehicles gains momentum, conflicts between traditional energy sources and renewable alternatives are likely to continue. The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for the future of transportation and the efforts to combat climate change.