Nissa Koerner, nissa.koerner@sierraclub.org
FRESNO, CA -- Today, citizens from across California voiced their opposition to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s and NHSTA’s Acting Administrator King proposed rollback of the clean car standards at a public hearing. Hundreds of Californians attended, including former EPA and auto industry employees, speaking out strongly in support of the standards.
The clean car standards, which had been agreed to by automakers, labor unions, environmental groups, EPA, Department of Transportation, and California would limit carbon pollution by 6 billion tons, save consumers $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, and reduce oil consumption by up to 4 million barrels every day. A recent poll found that nearly 7 in 10 American voters want the existing standards to remain in place.
The rule also limits the ability of California to establish their own tailpipe emissions standards. Under the Clean Air Act, California has the right to set stricter standards, and other states may adopt those standards. Today, 13 states and the District of Columbia follow these standards, resulting in cleaner air for their 113 million residents.
In response, Sierra Club Community Outreach Coordinator Julia Foote released the following statement:
“Trump and his dirty deputies are slamming the brakes on the life-saving clean car standards to help their corporate polluting friends. Despite their claims to the contrary, throwing the standards in reverse will make our cars less safe and more expensive, all while polluting our communities.
“Rolling back the clean car standards will hurt all Americans, and Andrew Wheeler’s rollback of California’s authority is nothing more than an attempt to undermine the clear air protections people have demanded and need. States must be allowed to protect their residents’ health by reducing tailpipe pollution within their borders, as they have for more than 50 years.
“Californians stood up today and said loud and clear that they want cleaner, better cars. The public overwhelmingly supports the standards, which will make our air cleaner, our cars safer, and create thousands of jobs for working Americans. Whether in the streets or in the courts, the Sierra Club and our allies will continue to fight back against this devastating reversal.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.