The Biden administration has recently unveiled some of the most significant pollution regulations in the history of the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized new, enforceable standards that aim to ensure that electric and hybrid vehicles constitute at least 56 percent of all passenger car and light truck sales by 2032.
Benefits of the New Standards
According to the EPA, this unprecedented industry transition could reduce an estimated 7 billion tons of emissions over the next three decades. Regulators believe this will also provide nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits for the nation, including $13 billion of annual public health benefits from improved air quality and $62 billion in reduced annual fuel, maintenance, and repair costs for everyday drivers.
Transportation and Carbon Emissions
Transportation is responsible for 29 percent of all US carbon emissions annually, making it the country’s largest single contributor to climate change. Aggressively promoting a nationwide shift towards EV adoption was a key part of Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign platform. While in office, Donald Trump rolled back the Obama administration’s previous automotive pollution standards applicable to vehicles manufactured through 2025. He has promised to enact similar orders if re-elected during this year’s presidential election.
Relaxed Version of Previous Proposal
The EPA’s new standards are a slightly relaxed version of a previous proposal put forth last year. To address concerns of both manufacturers and the industry’s largest union, United Auto Workers, the Biden administration agreed to slow the rise of tailpipe standards over the next few years. By 2030, however, limits will increase substantially to make up for the lost time. The EPA claims today’s finalized policy will still reduce emissions by the same amount over the next three decades.
Not an “EPA Car Ban”
The new rules are not an “EPA car ban” on gas-powered vehicles, as lobbyists with the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers continue to falsely claim. The guidelines go into effect in 2027, and only pertain to new cars and light trucks over the coming years. The stipulations also cover companies’ entire product lines, so it’s up to manufacturers to determine how their fleets as a whole meet the EPA benchmarks.
Potential Legal Challenges
However, fossil fuel companies and Republican authorities are extremely likely to file legal challenges over today’s announcement—challenges that could easily arrive in front of the Supreme Court in the coming years. Earlier today, the vice president of federal policy for the League of Conservation Voters said during a press call that they already discussed such possibilities with the Biden administration, and “they are crystal clear about the importance of getting rules out to make sure that they withstand both legal challenges from the fossil fuel industry and any congressional attacks should Republicans take over the Senate and the White House.”
FAQs
- What are the new pollution regulations announced by the Biden administration?The Biden administration has announced new pollution regulations that aim to ensure that electric and hybrid vehicles make up at least 56 percent of all passenger car and light truck sales by 2032.
- What does this mean for car manufacturers?Car manufacturers will have to deal with rising tailpipe pollution limits over the next few years. This means that over half of all car companies’ sales will need to be zero-emission models to meet the new federal benchmarks.
- What are the benefits of these new standards?According to the EPA, this could reduce an estimated 7 billion tons of emissions over the next three decades. It could also provide nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits for the nation, including $13 billion of annual public health benefits from improved air quality and $62 billion in reduced annual fuel, maintenance, and repair costs for everyday drivers,
