States Challenge EPA’s Truck Emissions Rule

A coalition of attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday, challenging the agency’s new emission limits for heavy-duty trucks rule. The lawsuit claims that recently finalized rule, which aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas and other toxic emissions from mobile sources, is an unrealistic push towards electrifying the heavy truck industry before necessary infrastructure is in place. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers leads the coalition of over 20 states. The lawsuit was filed in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, with many of the same states also challenging California’s heavy truck regulations.

The contested rule, finalized in March, is part of a broader suite of EPA standards targeting emissions from mobile sources. While the EPA estimates that this new regulation will result in a reduction of 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and provide $13 billion in net health benefits, industry stakeholders and state governments argue that the requirements are premature and not technologically feasible for long-haul electric vehicles.