API, ag groups sue EPA over EV rules

Bob Campbell, Odessa American, Texas
·2 min read

Jul. 1—WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Petroleum Institute has filed a lawsuit in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals contesting new Environmental Protection Agency vehicle emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles that would require 68 percent of new passenger vehicles and 43 percent of new medium-duty trucks and vans to be electric by 2032.

"We are taking action to protect American consumers, U.S. manufacturing workers and our nation's hard-won energy security from this intrusive government mandate," said API Senior Vice President and General Counsel Ryan Meyers. "EPA has exceeded its congressional authority with this regulation to eliminate most new gasoline cars and traditional hybrids from the U.S. market in less than a decade.

"We look forward to making our case in court."

The API has been joined in its court action by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation and six auto dealers representing sixteen brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country.

By approving tailpipe standards that focus exclusively on electric vehicles, the EPA ignored the proven benefits that corn ethanol plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle said.

"While it could take decades to get enough electric vehicles on the road to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, ethanol is a critical and effective climate solution that is available now," Wolle said. "We made this case to EPA to no avail and now we will make our case in court."

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said farmers answered the call to help America be more sustainable by growing the crops that were necessary for renewable fuels.

"Now the rug is being pulled out from underneath them with unrealistic emissions goals that put years of investment at risk," Duvall said "Impractical standards for light-duty and medium-duty trucks will drive up the cost of farm vehicles and force farmers to rely on a charging network that does not yet exist in rural areas."