Palmetto State News

Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined two lawsuits aimed at halting the imposition of electric-vehicle mandates on truck owners and operators across the United States. The legal actions are targeted at both the Biden administration and the State of California.

A coalition of 24 states, including South Carolina, filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Monday. This move challenges a new regulation from the Biden administration concerning emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. A separate group of 17 states lodged a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, seeking to block a package of regulations that target trucking fleet owners and operators.

“Once again, the Biden administration is overstepping its legal authority and trying to mandate something that will cost all of us more money,” said Attorney General Wilson. “On top of that, California is trying to take action on its own that will affect ALL states. We’re standing up for our states, our people, and the rule of law.”

The suit in D.C. targets a rule from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which imposes stringent tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The plaintiffs argue this effectively forces manufacturers to produce more electric trucks while reducing production of internal-combustion trucks.

The second lawsuit challenges a set of California regulations known as Advanced Clean Fleets. These rules require certain trucking fleet owners and operators to retire internal-combustion trucks and transition to electric ones - an option seen as more expensive and less efficient.

Both lawsuits argue that the Biden administration and California regulators have exceeded their constitutional and statutory authority by attempting to force nationwide transition to electric trucks.

Joining Attorney General Wilson in these lawsuits are attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The Arizona State Legislature has also joined the lawsuit against California regulators.