Oregon, Washington Suing EPA Over Vehicle Emission Standards
Listen
Oregon and Washington are joining a coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia in suing the Environmental Protection Agency and its administrator Scott Pruitt over the decision to roll back greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles built between 2022 and 2025.
The states argue those emissions standards for cars and light-duty truck models were put in place to help reduce carbon pollution and oil consumption.
“The vehicle emissions standards protect the environment and save consumers money with better fuel economy,” said Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in a press release.
“The EPA once again is ignoring the needs of consumers, its duty to protect the environment and most importantly, the law.”
Pruitt, the EPA administrator, has said the standards are costly for automakers and consumers. The EPA began re-examining emissions standards last year.
The states have questioned the EPA’s decisions on emissions standards throughout the process. In June, they sent a letter to Pruitt threatening legal action and arguing that those cars and light-duty trucks are responsible for 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
The coalition has argued that the car industry is already on track to meet or exceed many of the standards the EPA has argued are too costly for the industry.
Copyright 2018 Earthfix
Related Stories:
A park from pollution: 30 years after the ASARCO smokestack demolition, Tacoma’s waterfront transforms
It was a clear day in Tacoma on January 17, 1993. Commencement Bay was crowded with boats. Families gathered on boat decks and across North Tacoma sidewalks to watch the demolition of what was once the tallest smokestack in the world, the ASARCO smokestack that loomed over Tacoma’s waterfront for nearly 100 years.
With the press of a button, a child, supervised by demolition experts, detonated the smokestack. People cheered, bought commemorative sweatshirts and Doug Taylor’s grandfather set off an air horn in celebration, nearly causing his father to topple off their boat. Continue Reading A park from pollution: 30 years after the ASARCO smokestack demolition, Tacoma’s waterfront transforms
Washington Lawmakers Move Closer To Passing Clean Fuels Bill; Opponents Say It’s Too Costly
Lowering the amount of carbon that comes out of your tailpipe has become a quest for some Washington lawmakers. Now, new standards that would promote biofuels over gasoline are closer to becoming law than ever before. Continue Reading Washington Lawmakers Move Closer To Passing Clean Fuels Bill; Opponents Say It’s Too Costly
Washington Lawmakers Consider Shifting All New Car Sales To Electric Only By 2030
You may be used to hearing a pushy car salesperson ask the timeless question, “What can I do to get you in this car?” But one big thing could be different in Washington state a decade from now. Proposals introduced this winter in the Washington Legislature would end sales of new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2030. Continue Reading Washington Lawmakers Consider Shifting All New Car Sales To Electric Only By 2030
