July 13, 2023

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge EPA to Finalize Strongest Possible Vehicle Emissions Standards this Year

Lawmakers push for robust emissions standards to protect public health, benefit climate and economy

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today with their colleagues urged the EPA to finalize the strongest feasible multi-pollutant vehicle emission standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles before the end of this year.

In 2021, U.S. passenger cars and light-duty trucks contributed more than half of all transportation emissions in the U.S. The 2020 passenger fleet produces more than one million tons of nitrogen oxide emissions and 33,400 tons of particulate matter pollution annually, disproportionally harming low-income communities and communities of color. The strongest proposal in the EPA’s rulemaking is projected to increase market share for zero-emission vehicles to 69 percent of new vehicle sales by 2032.

“Given the urgency of and benefits from addressing threats to public health, including climate change, the unprecedented resources supporting zero-emission vehicle purchases, manufacturing and infrastructure, and the dramatic advances in clean vehicle adoption, we urge the EPA to adopt the strongest vehicle emission standards supported by the technical record, as necessary to protect public health and the environment, before the end of the year,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan.

In their letter, the lawmakers note that investments for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing, purchasing, and charging stations in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have made strong rulemaking more viable. The lawmakers also called on the EPA to eliminate loopholes that would weaken the rule and to work with environmental justice communities to ensure they are included in decision-making through a robust and responsive stakeholder engagement process.

Specifically, the lawmakers highlighted that the final rule should:

  1. Result in standards that achieve a 61 percent reduction of carbon dioxide in Model Year 2032 compared to existing Model Year 2026 standards, a reduction in criteria air pollutants including 37 percent reduction in particulate matter, 44 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides, and 55 percent in volatile organic compounds—a standard which is projected to increase the market share for zero-emission vehicles to an estimated 69 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales in 2032;
  2. Close loopholes in how compliance is calculated, including by phasing-out off-cycle carbon dioxide and air conditioning credits, which weaken the proposed rule; and,
  3. Further strengthen durability and warranty requirements for zero-emission vehicles, which will provide benefits to drivers and enhance the likelihood that expected emissions reductions will be achieved.

Along with Wyden and Merkley, the letter was co-signed by more than 85 members of Congress.

The full text of the letter is here.