California has withdrawn its request that the EPA grant it authority to impose its electric vehicle (EV) mandate on all trucks from other states that operate in the California even one day a year, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Thursday, crediting the efforts of his 24-state coalition of attorneys general (AGs).
Following pressure applied by Attorney General Rokita and likeminded attorneys general, California dropped its request that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant the state special permission to impose the mandate as part of its “Advanced Clean Fleets” regulation, Rokita said in a press release explaining the national importance of the victory:
“The proposed mandate would have forced trucking businesses from ALL states to abide by California’s edict when operating in the Golden State — and it would have applied to trucking companies that operated one truck for as little as one day per year in California.”
“Granting California a preemption waiver would run headlong into the equal sovereignty of the States protected by the Constitution,” the 24 state attorneys general warned the EPA last September.
“This development is a win for the rule of law and freedom from unaccountable bureaucrats on both coasts,” Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said, cheering California’s decision to drop its request for a waiver:
“California does not have the legal authority to force the rest of the country to transition to electric trucks. Our letter explained why California’s attempt to export its radical electric-truck mandate was unconstitutional, unlawful, and bad policy.”
"California’s mandate is an absurd overreach that would have inflicted serious harm to our fossil fuels industry," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said. "This victory helps keep our supply line in order across the United States. I am grateful for this resolution, and I will continue to fight against the radical climate agenda of the far left."
“The fanciful policies of California will never work in Alabama. There is no way that every small business that works in California could afford electric trucks, some of which cost $400,000, not to mention the cost to install charging stations and the costs of maintenance,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall stated, expressing relief that Republican Donald Trump is about to enter the White House:
“My colleagues and I will always step in when California attempts to mandate nationwide compliance with its radical, unworkable, and destructive policies. Thankfully, reason and the rule of law prevailed this time, and in less than a week, we will have President Trump back in office with an administration that would never even consider such an expansive request by a state.”
Indeed, the incoming Trump Administration is considered to be one of the main reasons that California dropped its request to the EPA.
In addition to the 24 states, major trade groups, such as the California Trucking Association, the American Trucking Associations, and the Specialty Equipment Market Association have also publicly voiced opposition to California’s scheme.