Barr-backed business lobbying group sues California over truck 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 California secured a similar waiver for its rules on car emissions, which was rescinded under then-President Trump before the Biden administration restored it.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 requires half of heavy-duty vehicle purchases by state and local governments to be zero-emission this year.

The rule, while developed in the Golden State, has broader implications as other states have the option of adopting it. More than a dozen other states have previously adopted California standards for both low-emission and zero-emission vehicles.

California has also set a timeline for phasing out internal-combustion medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2036. The rule, which has secured approval from the Biden administration, would also require fleet owners to ensure their trucks are zero-emission by 2042.

The Hill has reached out to California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s (D) office for comment.