Press Statement  AG Healey Statement on California Clean Cars Deal With Automakers

BOSTON — Attorney General Maura Healey released the following statement on today’s announcement that four automakers – Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW of North America – have reached an agreement with California to produce vehicles meeting certain tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards nationwide that are much more stringent than the Trump Administration’s proposal to roll back the current federal standards:

“More efficient cars will lead to cleaner air, a safer climate, a stronger American auto industry, and big savings for drivers at the pump. This agreement with four large auto makers is about building the cars and trucks of the future. It’s time for the Trump Administration to halt its illegal rollback and for the entire auto industry to commit to clean cars.”

BACKGROUND:

Globally, the transportation sector is the fastest growing source of dangerous greenhouse gas pollution. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the transportation sector has surpassed the electric power sector and is now the nation’s largest source of carbon dioxide emissions. Cars and light duty trucks make up 60 percent of the country’s transportation sector and are the main driver of U.S. dependence on oil, including foreign imports. In Massachusetts, the transportation sector is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Beginning in 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and CARB agreed to establish a single national program to limit greenhouse gas emissions from model year 2012–2025 vehicles. This program allows automakers to design and manufacture vehicles that will comply with tailpipe standards in all states. Massachusetts is one of 12 states that have adopted California’s stricter standards.

In January 2017, EPA determined, in its “midterm evaluation,” that the 2022-2025 standards are readily achievable by the auto industry. After an extensive technical review, based in significant part on information from industry, advocates, and other interested parties, EPA found that “automakers are well positioned to meet the standards at lower costs than previous estimated.” However, in April 2018, EPA arbitrarily reversed course and claimed that the greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2022–2025 vehicles should be scrapped.  

In August 2018, EPA and NHTSA formally proposed to roll back federal limits on tailpipe pollution from cars and trucks, by freezing standards for at least six years, resulting in Americans spending billions of dollars more on gas.

On Aug. 2, 2018 – the day the Trump Administration officially announced its proposed rollback – AG Healey led a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia in releasing a joint statement announcing an intent to sue the Administration over the proposal. In October 2018, AG Healey joined a coalition of 21 states and 4 major cities in filing comments with EPA and NHTSA opposing the rollback. The proposed rollback will increase costs for consumers at the pump, worsen air pollution, exacerbate climate change impacts nationwide, and threaten Massachusetts’ ability to meet the greenhouse gas emission reductions mandated by the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, which require a reduction of emissions of 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.