Senate President Petersen sues Biden administration's EPA, California over costly, economically damaging electric vehicle mandates
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Senate President Warren Petersen is taking legal action to block what he describes as federal government overreach by the Biden Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Petersen argues that the agency has exceeded its authority in issuing several electric-vehicle mandates that he claims will negatively impact Arizona residents financially and strain the state's power supply.
Today, Petersen, House Speaker Ben Toma, and the Arizona Trucking Association filed two lawsuits in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. These lawsuits aim to halt recently adopted EPA rules that are part of Biden's climate change agenda. The regulations mandate a rapid transition from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles and are expected to have significant economic repercussions.
The new rules stipulate that by 2032, nearly 70% of all new vehicles and 25% of all new semitrucks or similar heavy-duty vehicles sold in the United States must be electric. According to Petersen, this requirement will increase costs for consumers and businesses alike due to insufficient charging infrastructure and power grid capacity.
Additionally, the Arizona Legislature joined 16 states in a third lawsuit filed Monday against California. This suit challenges a rule requiring trucking operators to purchase expensive electric trucks and retire their diesel-fueled models. The rule affects fleets headquartered in Arizona if they operate within California, potentially disrupting supply chains and increasing costs for Arizona trucking companies.
"These rules exceed the EPA's statutory authority, are arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion," said Senate President Warren Petersen. "In the absence of our Attorney General holding the Biden Administration accountable, the Legislature will gladly protect our citizens from this egregious abuse of power."
"The climate change agenda from Democrats imposes expensive and unattainable goals on the automotive and trucking industries, which will undoubtedly lead to soaring consumer prices," said Senator Frank Carroll, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Technology & Missing Children. "We don't have the infrastructure to power these vehicles, and the average working-class citizen or trucking business can't afford to purchase them."
"The EPA's tailpipe emissions rules prioritize politics over science, posing a greater threat to public health by inflating the cost of essential and everyday goods," said Tony Bradley, President & CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association. "Despite the trucking industry's remarkable progress—already reducing 98.5% of emissions—we're dedicated to further advancements through innovation and investment. Yet, the EPA's impractical mandates burden us with unrealistic expectations and exorbitant costs."
For more information:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
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