Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined forces with a coalition of attorneys general and cities to defend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Final Rule for light-duty vehicle emission standards for model years 2027-2032. The coalition filed a motion to intervene in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in response to challenges from 25 Republican-led states.

Attorney General Nessel emphasized the importance of the Final Rule in reducing harmful pollutants in the air, stating, "The EPA’s Final Rule is a critical step in reducing the amounts of harmful pollutants in our air. By curbing these emissions, we not only protect the environment and public health, but also unlock economic opportunities in cleaner technologies in the Motor City. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to support these standards."

The Final Rule aims to set stricter tailpipe emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles, including greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These standards are crucial as transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, with passenger cars contributing to more than half of those emissions. Vehicle emissions are linked to various health impacts, such as premature death, respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, and cancer.

Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act, the EPA is mandated to set emission standards for air pollutants from new motor vehicles that endanger public health or welfare. The Final Rule is expected to result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, as well as cuts in nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Attorney General Nessel joined a coalition that includes attorneys general from multiple states such as California, New York, and Washington, as well as cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. This collaborative effort seeks to uphold the EPA's Final Rule and promote a transition towards cleaner technologies in the transportation sector.