Attorney General Hilgers Leads Multi-State Lawsuits Against Electric Vehicle Mandates
Attorney General Hilgers is leading multi-state coalitions in two lawsuits to stop both the Biden Administration and the State of California from imposing electric-vehicle mandates on truck owners and operators throughout the country.
A coalition of 24 states filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to challenge the Biden Administration’s new regulation of emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.
A separate coalition of 17 states and the Nebraska Trucking Association filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California that seeks to block a package of regulations targeting trucking fleet owners and operators.
“California and an unaccountable EPA are trying to transform our national trucking industry and supply chain infrastructure. This effort will devastate the trucking and logistics industry, raise prices for customers, and impact untold number of jobs across Nebraska and the country. Neither California nor the EPA has the constitutional power to dictate these nationwide rules to Americans,” stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers.
The States’ D.C. Circuit suit targets the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule imposing stringent tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles that effectively forces manufacturers to produce more electric trucks and fewer internal-combustion trucks. The EPA’s rule would require manufacturers to produce fewer vehicles that utilize the preferred internal-combustion technology, despite the current lack of infrastructure for electric trucks.
The States’ California suit challenges a suite of California regulations called Advanced Clean Fleets, which requires certain trucking fleet owners and operators to retire internal-combustion trucks and transition to more expensive and less efficient electric trucks. This regulation will have significant nationwide effects on the supply chain, given California’s large population and access to ports for international trade.
Both lawsuits argue that the Biden Administration and California regulators have exceeded their constitutional and statutory authority in attempting to force the entire country to transition to electric trucks. Electric trucks are inefficient and costly and will harm citizens by increasing the costs of interstate transportation, raising prices for goods, and burdening the electric power grid.
“I wholeheartedly support Attorney General Hilgers’ efforts to stop California and the Biden Administration from mandating electric trucks. Nebraska trucking companies, not the government, should decide how best to run their businesses,” stated Governor Jim Pillen.
The lawsuits are the latest in Attorney General Hilgers’ push against wide-reaching environmental policies that harm Nebraska consumers and companies. Attorney General Hilgers has been active in challenging various regulations imposed by the Biden Administration, such as forcing states to reduce on-road CO2 emissions, and making climate change disclosures for businesses.
In addition to Attorney General Hilgers, attorneys general from 23 other states joined the lawsuit against the Biden Administration, while attorneys general from 13 states, the Arizona State Legislature, and the Nebraska Trucking Association joined the lawsuit against California regulators.
These lawsuits aim to protect the interests of truck owners and operators across the country, as well as prevent overreach by the federal government and California in dictating national regulations on electric vehicles. Attorney General Hilgers and the coalition of states are committed to fighting for the rights of individuals and businesses to make their own decisions regarding their operations without government interference.
In a recent news article from Alliance Times, it was reported that several attorneys general are leading a multi-state coalition in lawsuits to stop electric truck mandates. This opposition to electric trucks is being driven by concerns over potential economic impacts and the need for more flexibility in transitioning to electric vehicles. The coalition is specifically targeting mandates that would require the adoption of electric trucks or EV fleet trucks, including medium duty electric trucks. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the future of electric vehicles in the transportation industry.