Attorney General Hilgers leads multi-state coalitions in two lawsuits seeking to end electric truck mandates

Lincoln-Attorney General Hilgers is leading multi-state coalitions in two lawsuits aimed at stopping the Biden administration and the state of California from imposing electric vehicle mandates on truck owners and operators nationwide.

Today, a coalition of 24 states filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to challenge the Biden administration’s new heavy-duty vehicle emissions regulations.

A separate coalition of 17 states and the Nebraska Trucking Association have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, seeking to block a set of regulations targeting truck fleet owners and operators.

“California and an irresponsible EPA are trying to transform our nation’s trucking industry and supply chain infrastructure. This effort, coming at a time of increased inflation and with an already strained power grid, will devastate the trucking and logistics industry, raise prices for customers and impact countless jobs in Nebraska and the country. Neither California nor the EPA has the constitutional authority to dictate these national rules to Americans. I am proud to lead our efforts to end these unconstitutional attempts to overhaul our economy and I am grateful to our sister states for joining our coalitions,” said Attorney General Mike Hilgers.

The states’ D.C. Circuit lawsuit targets the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule imposing strict tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, effectively requiring manufacturers to produce more electric trucks and fewer internal combustion trucks. Right now, electric trucks – and the infrastructure to support them – are virtually non-existent. They also have shorter spans and require longer stops. The EPA rule, however, would force manufacturers to produce fewer vehicles using the preferred internal combustion technology.

The states’ lawsuit in California challenges a series of California regulations called Advanced Clean Fleets. Advanced Clean Fleets is forcing some truck fleet owners and operators to retire internal combustion trucks and switch to more expensive, less efficient electric trucks. The rule applies to fleets headquartered outside of California if they operate in California. Given California’s large population and access to ports for international trade, this regulation will have significant effects on the domestic supply chain.

Both lawsuits argue that the Biden administration and California regulators overstepped their constitutional and statutory authority in attempting to force the entire country to switch to electric trucks. Besides their legal flaws, both regulations defy reality. Electric trucks are inefficient and expensive and will harm Nebraska citizens by increasing interstate transportation costs, raising freight prices, and straining the power grid.

“I wholeheartedly support Attorney General Hilgers’ efforts to stop California and the Biden administration from mandating electric trucks. Nebraska trucking companies, not the government, should decide how best to run their businesses,” said Governor Jim Pillen.

These lawsuits are the latest in Attorney General Hilgers’ campaign against sweeping environmental policies that harm Nebraska consumers and businesses. For example, Attorney General Hilgers recently won a lawsuit that blocked the Biden administration from requiring states to reduce C02 emissions on roads, and he won a quick victory in a lawsuit challenging the Securities Rule and Exchange Commission requiring companies to disclose climate change. Attorney General Hilgers also joined a lawsuit targeting the EPA’s electric car mandate, and last week, Attorney General Hilgers filed a lawsuit to block the latest plan from taking effect. Biden’s clean energy agenda after the first was overturned by the Supreme Court. All of these lawsuits aim to stop the Biden administration from adopting rules that threaten the reliability of the power grid, raise prices for consumers, and inflate the role of government in our lives.

In addition to Attorney General Hilgers, the following state attorneys general have joined the lawsuit against the Biden administration: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana , Oklahoma. , South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

In addition to Attorney General Hilgers, the following state attorneys general have joined the lawsuit against the California regulators: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Additionally, the Arizona State Legislature and the Nebraska Trucking Association also joined the lawsuit.