Home ‘A clean future for all Americans’: New EPA emission standards advances auto technology
Virginia News

‘A clean future for all Americans’: New EPA emission standards advances auto technology

Rebecca Barnabi
highway move over law Virginia
(© Patrick Daxenbichler – stock.adobe.com)

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized new emission standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles that are model years 2027 and beyond.

Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles was announced March 20, 2024 and sets new, more protective standards to further reduce harmful air pollutant emissions from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year 2027. The final rule builds upon EPA’s final standards for federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2023 through 2026 and leverages advances in clean car technology to unlock benefits to Americans ranging from improving public health through reducing smog- and soot-forming pollution from vehicles, to reducing climate pollution, to saving drivers money through reduced fuel and maintenance costs. The standards will phase in over model years 2027 through 2032.

Leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer of Virginia, Matt Cartwright, Sean Casten, Chellie Pingree, and Katie Porter, and Chair Emeritus Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia praised the finalization of the new emission standards.

“Today represents another historic step forward for America in achieving our right to breathe clean air and securing a habitable planet for generations to come. Building upon decades of progress under the Clean Air Act, EPA’s new light-duty and medium-duty vehicle standards reflect the transitioning American automobile market that is boosting our economy and delivering clean and affordable transportation to American households,” SEEC leaders said in a statement Wednesday.

The American clean vehicle revolution is underway thanks to the SEEC’s historic investments through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Under the leadership of the Biden Administration, America has seen a quadrupling of electric vehicle (EV) sales, a more than 40 percent increase in public EV chargers, and billions of dollars in private investments for domestic EV and battery manufacturing. Our manufacturers are willing and ready to meet the challenge in delivering a clean future for all Americans.”

The SEEC is a coalition of 96 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, founded in January 2009, to be a focused, active and effective coalition for advancing policies that address climate change, promote clean energy innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create family-sustaining clean jobs, protect our nation’s air, water, and natural environment, and promote environmental justice.

“EPA’s new emission standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles model years 2027 and onward ensure that we maintain this monumental progress. These standards are expected to deliver $13 billion in public health benefits annually, reduce planet warming pollution by more than half for passenger vehicles, save American consumers $6,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle, all while driving innovation and technological advancement in a competitive global EV market.”

The SEEC stands with the EPA and the Biden Administration to renew its commitment “to the American people that we will continue to protect our communities from harmful tailpipe pollution; that we will support American clean vehicle manufacturing and jobs; and that we will tackle the climate crisis. All Americans will benefit from a clean, affordable, and sustainable transportation future, and we are just getting started.”

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.

Latest News

mailbag
Basketball, Football

Mailbag: CFP payouts, UVA Football transfers, coaches not taking media questions

Little Girl Augusta County dog shot
Local News

Augusta County dog shot by neighbor miraculously survives, facing surgery or amputation

An Augusta County dog was shot in the leg on Thursday, and a local rescue organization has stepped in to ensure the best outcome possible.

economy
U.S. News

Ohio bakeware manufacturer cited after two employees suffer amputations

Two employees of a Cleveland bakeware manufacturer suffered injuries that resulted in amputations, and the Department of Labor says both incidents could have been avoided with proper safety measures. OSHA found that G&S Metal Products Co. did not equip its machinery with adequate guarding or enforce critical safety protocols, including establishing proper lockout/tagout procedures, and...

constitution
Politics, U.S. News

When rights become privileges: Is the Constitution becoming optional?

Israel
Politics

Mel Gurtov: The stunning, and sudden, collapse of Syria’s dictatorship

Arts & Culture, Local News

‘The Staunton, Virginia Bathroom Reader’ provides snippets of history gathered by local writer

crime scene yellow police tape
Virginia News

Norfolk man charged with second-degree murder in Sunday shooting