Abstract:

On August 2, 2018 the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The proposal would essentially hold the 2020 standards for new vehicles in place indefinitely. According to official federal analyses, the rollback will result in 73 billion gallons more gasoline bought by U.S. drivers and 800 million tons more carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast, the final rule adopted under the Obama Administration requires a 3%-4% increase in efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per mile per year through 2025. This fact sheet summarizes the states that have adopted stronger emissions regulations beyond the federal standard and intend to litigate, as well as additional jurisdictions that have publicly opposed the proposed revisions to the standards.