Columbia, South Carolina – Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined two legal actions challenging electric vehicle mandates from the Biden administration and the State of California. On Monday, a group of 24 states filed a legal challenge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit against the Biden administration’s new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, 17 states have brought a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California aiming to stop regulations that affect trucking fleet owners and operators.
“Once again, the Biden administration is overstepping its legal authority and trying to mandate something that will cost all of us more money,” said Attorney General Wilson in a release. “On top of that, California is trying to take action on its own that will affect ALL states. We’re standing up for our states, our people, and the rule of law.”
The lawsuit in D.C. focuses on the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation that sets strict emissions limits for heavy-duty vehicles, pushing manufacturers toward producing more electric trucks and fewer traditional internal combustion trucks. This shift comes despite the lack of widespread infrastructure for electric trucks, which also suffer from limited range and longer refueling times. The rule mandates a reduction in vehicles using conventional internal combustion engines.
The lawsuit in California addresses the state’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulations, which compel trucking fleet owners and operators to phase out internal combustion trucks in favor of electric models, which are more costly and less efficient. This rule also affects fleets based outside California if they operate within the state. Given California’s large population and key role in international trade, the rule has extensive implications for the national supply chain.
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In both lawsuits, the states contend that the Biden administration and California regulators are overstepping their constitutional and legal limits by trying to push the entire country towards adopting electric trucks.
Moreover, the states point out practical issues with the regulations. They argue that electric trucks are not only inefficient and expensive, but they will also negatively impact the residents of South Carolina. The shift to electric trucks is expected to drive up the costs of transporting goods across states, increase the prices of products, and put additional strain on the electric power grid.
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Alongside Attorney General Wilson, attorneys general from the following states joined the lawsuit against the Biden administration, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
