CEA Praises Senate Move to Block Overreaching California Vehicle Mandates

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, applauded the Senate for moving to rescind Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers granted in the final weeks of the Biden Administration that would impose California vehicle rules that amount to de facto vehicle bans onto almost 35% of the country's population.

The Senate actions follow a bipartisan vote in the House in which 35 Democrats joined their Republican counterparts in voting to remove the waivers under the Congressional Review Act. 

"CEA commends Sen. John Thune for bringing to the Senate floor these CRA resolutions, which defend consumer freedom by preventing California’s restrictive vehicle policies from being imposed on other states," CEA President David Holt said. "Families across America deserve the right to choose vehicles that meet their unique needs – including EVs for those who want EVs - without facing artificial market constraints or paying premium prices they simply cannot afford."

Twelve states passed legal measures enabling them to adopt California's Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) mandates, meaning the EPA waivers would force those mandates on more than a third of the nation.

"California’s track record speaks for itself, with energy and transportation policies that have resulted in skyrocketing costs and reliability challenges that disproportionately impact working families and small businesses," Holt said. "We believe consumers in a free marketplace – not one constrained by government mandates – are best equipped to determine which transportation options meet their needs affordably and reliably."

CEA supports electric vehicles. But they remain expensive compared to traditional vehicles, charging infrastructure is still limited, and their manufacture requires major quantities of critical minerals that are almost entirely under the control of China. Additionally, greater adoption is already increasing the strain on our electric grid, which is undergoing a generational increase in demand largely owing to the increased power requirements of AI and data centers.

CEA's 2023 "Freedom to Fuel: Consumer Choice in the Automotive Marketplace" report examines these challenges and how, if policy makers fail to address them and continue with costly mandates, consumers will pay more in overall transportation costs and the grid will face potentially catastrophic pressure.

CEA strongly supports House Joint Resolution 88, introduced by Rep. John Joyce (PA) which targets ACCII rules that require that 35% of new car sales in California be zero-emission by 2026 and 100% by 2035. The resolution is complemented by H.J. Resolution 87, introduced by Rep. John James (MI) and H.J. Resolution 89, introduced by Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA), which are still awaiting passage. 

Those resolutions address California's restrictive emissions and other mandates on commercial vehicles and trucks, which would increase transportation and ultimately consumer costs by forcing onto the road vehicles that are not economically competitive with traditional heavy-duty vehicles and trucks. Given California’s importance as an import hub, the cost increases would affect many nationwide. 

"CEA supports all forms of energy and transportation that deliver affordability and reliability for American consumers. The Senate's actions today represent a crucial step toward preserving consumer choice by preventing policies that would make energy and transportation more expensive and less reliable for everyday Americans,” Holt said. “We urge President Trump to swiftly sign House Joint Resolution 88 into law."

Consumer Energy Alliance | https://consumerenergyalliance.org/