Yesterday’s Congressional Attack on Clean Transportation

Final Up to date on: twenty third Could 2025, 04:41 pm

Assertion from the Southwest Power Effectivity Venture on yesterday’s congressional assault on clear transportation

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted to dam main states Colorado and New Mexico from imposing a set of unpolluted transportation insurance policies designed to scale back air pollution and speed up adoption of electrical autos (EVs). The Congressional Overview Act (CRA) resolutions handed right this moment strike down waivers beforehand granted by the Environmental Safety Company, which allowed states to implement the Superior Clear Vehicles, Superior Clear Vans, and Heavy Responsibility Omnibus rules.

These guidelines require automakers to construct autos that emit fewer health-harming and climate-changing pollution, whereas advancing zero-emission applied sciences like plug-in electrical and hydrogen autos. The U.S. Home handed related resolutions earlier in Could.

Travis Madsen, Transportation Program Director for the Southwest Power Effectivity Venture (SWEEP), issued the next assertion:

“As we speak’s vote makes it clear that Congress needs People to waste extra money on gasoline.

“Electrical autos are much more gasoline environment friendly than gasoline or diesel ones. Our analysis reveals that drivers within the Southwest can save about $10,000 over 200,000 miles with an electrical sedan, and greater than $30,000 with a battery-electric pickup — roughly a 25% low cost on the overall value of possession.

“However these financial savings rely upon having autos that can be purchased. These clear automobile applications have made that attainable by driving innovation, serving to Tesla get off the bottom, and motivating conventional automakers to put money into higher, less expensive know-how.

“These insurance policies are projected to ship as much as $4 trillion in nationwide advantages by mid-century — together with shopper financial savings and prevented well being and environmental prices. That’s greater than $1,000 per family, yearly.

“By overturning these waivers, Congress is letting producers off the hook, hanging shoppers out to dry, and giving up on local weather motion. Mixed with the repeal of EV incentives within the current Home finances invoice, Congress is ceding management in clear automobile know-how to China.

“I expect states and cities to pursue progress through other channels — courts, legislatures, and administrative action — and SWEEP stands ready to help.”

SWEEP thanks Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet (CO), Heinrich and Luján (NM), Kelly and Gallego (AZ), and Rosen and Cortez-Masto (NV) for voting in opposition to these dangerous resolutions.

Further Background

Beneath the Clear Air Act, California is allowed to set its personal automobile air pollution requirements, and different states might undertake them in the event that they face important air high quality challenges. Colorado and New Mexico adopted California’s Superior Clear Vehicles 2 and Superior Clear Vans guidelines in 2023, whereas Nevada adopted Clear Vehicles 1 in 2021, however has not up to date its rules to their present kind. Arizona briefly participated in a previous clear automobile program within the 2010s.

Though Colorado and New Mexico carried out their guidelines solely by way of 2032 — after which they might revert to federal requirements — the CRA vote threatens to dam all state enforcement of those applications, no matter their deliberate period.

Authorized challenges are anticipated. Each the Senate Parliamentarian and the Authorities Accountability Workplace beforehand dominated that these waivers should not topic to CRA oversight. The problem is now doubtless headed to federal court docket.

The Southwest Power Effectivity Venture (SWEEP) is a public curiosity group selling higher power effectivity, clear transportation, and helpful electrification in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. swenergy.org

Press assertion from SWEEP.