No one supports stripping states of their rights to clean up pollution from cars, and yet that’s exactly what the Trump administration just did.
Trump’s EPA announced last week that it’s revoking the waiver under the federal Clean Air Act that allows California and other states to set tailpipe pollution standards and require that automakers stock a certain percent of electric vehicles at dealerships.
The tailpipe standards protect climate, health and air quality, and save money at the pump, for more than 118 million people in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Ten states, representing 30% of the U.S. auto market, follow California’s requirement for automakers to supply electric vehicles. This requirement ensures those states get the greatest selection of electric vehicles at the lowest prices.
Revoking California’s clean cars waiver goes beyond the states that follow California today. The revocation strips all states of their authority under the Clean Air Act to control vehicle pollution and to require automakers to stock electric vehicles within their own borders.
This move marks a sharp break with the last four decades, during which states have had the authority under the Clean Air Act to adopt stronger tailpipe pollution standards than those set by the federal government — an example of cooperative federalism that was notably supported by President Ronald Reagan.
Next, Trump plans to roll back federal clean car standards – a move that’s estimated to cost American consumers an additional $460 billion in gasoline costs.
These attacks on state clean car standards are widely opposed. Maintaining state authority to protect local communities from pollution has strong support from mayors, governors and attorneys general who want to stop the Trump administration from trampling on their rights, including in states like Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, and North Carolina. Automakers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a majority of consumers, environmentalists, and public health groups want the administration to work with states so we can continue to clean up our air and save families money at the pump.
Recently 24 bipartisan governors representing 52% of Americans signed onto the Nation’s Clean Car Promise supporting state authority on strong clean car standards. Canada and U.S. clean car states – representing more than 50 percent of the North American auto market – have banded together in an agreement to ensure North Americans have access to clean, efficient vehicles that cut pollution and keep industry in both countries competitive – no matter what the Trump administration does.
Seventeen of the world’s largest automakers wrote to the Trump administration that rolling back clean car standards will lower their profits and create ‘untenable’ instability that could kill jobs in one of the nation’s most important manufacturing sectors.
Four automakers representing 30% of the U.S. auto market made their own deal with states for stronger tailpipe pollution standards than what Trump is proposing. These automakers know they’re capable of achieving the cleaner car standards, and that by doing so they’ll be better positioned to stay competitive in a growing global market for clean cars.
The transportation sector is the largest source of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change and threatens public health. Clean car standards are the best policies we have on the books to fight climate change and protect public health.
We must fight this backwards move on climate action. Every state leader in this country should stand and fight for the right of states to adopt stronger than federal clean car standards, protecting our health and saving drivers money. Once it’s gone, we may never get it back.
Josh Becker founded Cleantech for Obama. He serves on the Board of Menlo Spark and is a candidate for the District 13 seat in the California Senate. Janelle London serves on the Environmental Quality Commission for the city of Menlo Park, and is the co-executive director of Coltura.
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