Biden Administration Restores Authority of States, Including Minnesota, to Slash Vehicle Pollution and Protect Communities

MINNESOTA - Today, President Biden’s EPA restored a key tool to address pollution from the transportation sector, the nation’s leading source of climate-disrupting pollution.  

The EPA’s move today restores California’s authority, promised under the Clean Air Act, to adopt standards that are stronger than federal vehicle pollution standards. This authority means all states that have adopted cleaner car standards, including Minnesota last year, can continue to implement tougher pollution standards for cars and light-duty trucks. This will deliver cleaner air, fight the climate crisis, and make these states desirable locations for clean car investments.

Today’s action reverses an illegal and unprecedented waiver revocation by the previous administration that threatened our climate and the well-being of communities around the country. Sierra Club and Earthjustice, together with a broad coalition of public health and environmental groups, sued the Trump EPA in 2019 over this action, challenging its revocation of California’s waiver.

In response to the news of the EPA waiver reinstatement, Margaret Levin, Director of Sierra Club Minnesota, issued the following statement:

“The Biden EPA has made good on its promise to restore a critical waiver that allows states across the nation to protect our communities from dangerous car and truck emissions and slash the largest source of climate pollution.

“Strong pollution standards for cars and light-duty trucks can help Minnesota grow our economy and spur the burgeoning clean electric vehicle market.”