Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is leading a coalition of 24 states in a legal challenge against a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rollback of vehicle emissions standards. The move, announced Friday, comes after the EPA’s own analysis indicated the changes would likely increase fuel costs for consumers and result in $1.5 trillion in added expenses over the lifetime of the vehicles affected. The legal action aims to halt the implementation of the rollback, which Jackson and other officials argue undermines efforts to lower costs and address climate change.
“The EPA’s own numbers show this rollback will raise gas prices and cost families more than it saves. We’re going to court to stop it,” Jackson said in a statement. The challenge centers on the EPA’s decision to rescind what’s known as the “Endangerment Finding,” a determination made in 2009 that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and the environment. This finding was the basis for federal regulations on vehicle emissions.
Governor Josh Stein echoed Jackson’s concerns, stating, “The EPA’s recission of the Endangerment Finding is a massive step backward that threatens our efforts to lower costs and keep people safe from extreme weather events.” He praised Jackson for taking action to protect North Carolinians’ financial well-being and future.
The EPA’s analysis, which forms the core of the legal challenge, projects that eliminating current vehicle pollution standards will lead to an increase in gas prices. Specifically, the agency estimates a 25-cent per gallon increase by 2035, potentially rising to 75 cents per gallon by 2050, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The EIA is a principal source of energy statistics and analysis for the federal government.
The Core of the Dispute: The Endangerment Finding
The “Endangerment Finding” was a landmark decision under the Obama administration, establishing the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. It was based on extensive scientific review and has been consistently upheld by federal courts. The current rollback represents a significant departure from that precedent, and critics argue it lacks a sound scientific basis. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that the evidence supporting the original finding has only strengthened since 2009.
Beyond the financial impact on consumers, the rollback is also raising concerns about its environmental consequences. Less fuel-efficient vehicles contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change and potentially leading to more frequent and severe weather events. North Carolina, in particular, has made strides in reducing emissions over the past two decades, achieving a 21% reduction between 2005 and 2022. This rollback threatens to reverse that progress.
Legal Arguments and the Massachusetts v. EPA Precedent
The coalition of attorneys general argues that the EPA’s action violates the Clean Air Act. A key legal precedent in this case is the 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA. This landmark case affirmed the EPA’s authority – and obligation – to regulate emissions that endanger public health. The attorneys general contend that the agency is now acting in direct contradiction to that ruling by rescinding the Endangerment Finding without presenting latest scientific evidence to justify the change.
Consumer groups have long maintained that fuel economy standards ultimately save consumers money. They argue that the long-term savings from reduced fuel consumption outweigh any initial increase in vehicle price. The EPA’s own analysis supports this claim, indicating that the rollback will result in significantly higher lifetime costs for vehicle owners.
Who is Joining the Challenge?
Attorney General Jackson is joined in the legal challenge by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The broad coalition underscores the widespread concern over the EPA’s decision and its potential impact on states across the country.
A copy of the petition filed by the coalition is available here.
The case is expected to be heard in federal court, and the outcome could have significant implications for national climate policy and the future of vehicle emissions standards. The next step in the legal process will be a response from the EPA, outlining its defense of the rollback. A timeline for that response has not yet been announced.
What we have is a developing story. Check back for updates.
