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WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration is on the verge of revoking California's power to set auto mileage standards, saying that only the federal government has the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and the economy. fuel.
Conservative and free market groups were invited to attend an official announcement of the demolition scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington.
Gloria Bergquist, spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said Tuesday that her group was among the guests at the event, with EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
The move came after the Justice Department recently opened an antitrust investigation into an agreement between California and four automakers for tougher pollution and mileage requirements higher than those demanded by President Donald Trump. Trump has also sought to relax the federal mileage standards of the Obama era nationwide, weakening a key effort by his Democratic predecessor to slow climate change.
Top California officials and environmental groups have pledged to take action to stop the rollback.
The White House declined to comment Tuesday, referring questions to the EPA. The EPA Press Office did not respond to a phone message or e-mail requesting a comment.
But EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler told the National Automobile Dealers Association on Tuesday that the Trump administration would act "in the very near future" to take steps towards establishing a national fuel economy standards.
"We embrace federalism and the role of states, but federalism does not mean that one state can dictate standards for the nation," he said, adding that stricter standards for 39 fuel economy would hurt consumers by increasing the average cost price of new cars and automakers to produce more electric vehicles.
Trump went to California on Tuesday for a one night trip including GOP fundraising events near San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
California's power to set its own stricter emissions standards dates back to a waiver issued by Congress when the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970. The state has long pushed automakers to adopt more fuel-efficient and less polluting vehicles. A dozen states and the District of Columbia also meet California standards for fuel economy.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said on Tuesday that the measures taken by the Trump administration would hurt US automakers and American families. He said California would fight against the administration in federal court.
"You have no basis and no authority to withdraw this derogation," said Becerra, a Democrat, in a statement, referring to Trump. "We are ready to fight for a future that you seem unable to understand."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said the White House "has given up its responsibility to the rest of the world for reducing emissions and fighting global warming."
"California will never wait for Washington's permission to protect the health and safety of children and families," said Newsom, a Democrat.
The agreement reached in July between California and four of the world's largest automakers – Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen – has bypassed the Trump administration's plan to freeze emissions standards and fuel consumption adopted by Obama in 2021.
The four automakers have agreed with California to reduce their emissions by 3.7% annually from the 2022 model year, until 2026. This compares to annual reductions of 4.7% until the end of the year. In 2025 under Obama standards. Emissions standards are closely related to fuel economy requirements because vehicles pollute less if they consume less gallons of fuel.
The transportation sector in the United States is the largest source of greenhouse gases that warms the planet.
Wheeler said Tuesday: "California will be able to stay in place and implement programs to combat smog and other forms of air pollution caused by motor vehicles. ". But fuel economy has been one of the main regulatory instruments used by the state to reduce harmful emissions.
Environmentalists have condemned the expected announcement of the Trump administration.
"Everyone wins when we adopt strict standards for clean cars," said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund. "Strict standards for clean cars allow us to breathe healthier, protect us from the urgent threat of climate change and allow Americans to save hundreds of dollars a year in petrol costs."
Adam Beam, associate editor at The Associated Press, wrote the report from Sacramento, California.
Follow the investigative reporter Michael Biesecker at the address http://twitter.com/mbieseck
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