SELC statement on EPA’s new vehicle emission standards

WASHINGTON — Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its strongest ever vehicle emission standards. The two proposed rules would tighten emissions standards for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles from model years 2027 to 2032 and would drastically reduce tailpipe pollution and improve public health.   

In response, the Southern Environmental Law Center released the following statements:   

Staff Attorney Carroll Courtenay highlighted the multiple benefits of the proposed standards.  

“The EPA’s proposed standards are a major step forward. They will improve public health —especially in our most vulnerable communities—and significantly reduce the leading source of climate pollution nationwide and in the South. We urge EPA to further strengthen and move swiftly to finalize these standards so our communities and the environment can benefit from a cleaner transportation future as soon as possible.” 

Transportation Electrification Attorney, Garrett Gee, said that in conjunction with recently passed legislation, the proposed standards will accelerate transportation electrification.  

“The clean vehicle revolution is underway right here in the Southeast, and these standards provide the push we need to accelerate the auto industry’s move into an electric future. These proposed standards are supported by historic federal funding for electrification and other efforts to reduce emissions through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, so EPA should adopt the strongest possible standards to ensure that these laws achieve their promise.”