California Attorney General Rob Bonta, left, speaks during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., on Monday, May 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Adam Beam)
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Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment
The Big Story
Barr-backed lobbying group sues California over emissions rule
An anti-regulatory business lobbying group backed by former Attorney General Bill Barr has sued California over rules aimed at phasing out gas-powered trucks in the state.
The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce filed its lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
“The ability to move people and products reliably and affordably is foundational to free enterprise and a functioning marketplace that serves American consumers. The attempt currently underway by the State of California to ban liquid fuels and internal combustion engines is a major threat to the American way of life and terrible climate policy to boot,” CEO Gentry Collins said in a statement.
The lawsuit, joined by the Associated Equipment Distributors, alleges the state violated the Clean Air Act by codifying a rule more stringent than its federal counterpart without securing a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). California secured a similar waiver for its rules on car emissions, which was rescinded under then-President Trump before the Biden administration restored it.
California last year announced a rule that would gradually increase the required percentage of trucks sold in the state that are electric over a decadelong timeline between 2024 and 2035. It requires short-haul trucks to be zero-emission by 2035 and half of heavy-duty vehicle purchases by state and local governments to be zero-emission this year.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
Schools across the country are preparing millions of students for the solar eclipse Monday, an exciting opportunity for educators who see it as one of the few times they can bring a space lesson to life.
President Biden on Friday got a first-hand look at the damage from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and pledged to “move heaven and Earth” to rebuild the structure.
The New York City area was shaken by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake Friday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Extinction risk to southern resident orcas accelerating as researchers raise alarm (The Seattle Times)
Oil Producers Turn the Screws as Market Tightens (Bloomberg)
Is the Fight Against Climate Change Losing Momentum? (The New Yorker)
On Tap
Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:
Monday:
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security will hold a hearing on the Biden administration’s hold on natural gas export approvals.
Wednesday:
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold hearings to examine the state of air quality monitoring technology.
The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on the SEC’s climate disclosure rule
The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a hearing titled Oversight Hearing on The National Wildlife Refuge System at Risk: Impacts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Proposed BIDEH Rule.
Thursday:
The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a hearing titled Energizing the Territories: Promoting Affordable and Reliable Energy Sources for the U.S. Insular Areas.
Former President Trump on Friday demanded his hush money judge recuse himself from the upcoming trial, now less than two weeks away, over his daughter’s firm’s digital marketing work for prominent Democrats. Read more
Fox News is rejecting a call from Biden administration officials to retract coverage of the policy on Easter egg art used during the White House’s annual holiday celebration earlier this week. Read more
