Republican attorneys general from 25 states have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in an attempt to block rules aimed at reducing emissions from cars and light trucks and promoting electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. The regulations, finalized by President Joe Biden’s administration on March 20, seek to cut fleetwide tailpipe emissions for vehicles by nearly 50% over 2026 levels by 2032 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7.2 billion tons through 2055.
The attorneys general argue that the EPA has exceeded its legal authority with these rules. They claim that the regulations will harm the American economy, threaten jobs, raise prices, and undermine the U.S. electricity grid. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman further states that there is little consumer interest in EVs in his state.
Republican state officials view these rules as an improper attempt by the Biden administration to forcefully transition the American passenger vehicle market to EVs. Coleman accuses the administration of sacrificing the American auto industry and its workers in pursuit of a radical green agenda. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey also criticizes the rules, calling them “legally flawed and unrealistic.”
The EPA has not commented on the lawsuit. However, these regulations are among the most significant environmental rules implemented under President Biden, who has made combating climate change a top priority. The agency predicts that between 35% and 56% of new vehicles sold between 2030 and 2032 would be electric under these rules, reflecting the flexibility given to automakers to pursue different pollution-cutting technologies.
During the public comment period before the rules were finalized, Republican state attorneys general already expressed concerns about the EPA’s authority and accused the agency of attempting to restructure the automobile industry from top to bottom. In response to resistance from autoworkers and the auto industry, the final version of the regulations was scaled back to provide more flexibility for automakers to meet emissions reduction goals. The EPA allowed greater freedom for automakers to meet emissions standards with gas-electric hybrids, which some environmentalists have criticized as a half-measure that delays the transition to full EVs.
The EPA emphasizes that the final rule does not impose a mandate on manufacturers to adopt EVs. EPA chief Michael Regan states that the regulation cuts emissions by 49% by 2032 compared to 2026 levels, which is slightly less ambitious than the agency’s previous plan of 56%.
The lawsuit is supported by several other states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. Notably, the recent regulations for heavy-duty vehicles like semi-trucks and buses, which were finalized by the EPA on March 29, are not part of this lawsuit.
This legal action is just one example of Republican attorneys general challenging various aspects of the Biden administration’s climate agenda through the courts. These states have also challenged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s corporate climate disclosure rules, the U.S. Energy Department’s pause on approvals for new liquefied natural gas export facilities, and EPA rules that strengthen air pollution standards.