Palmetto State News

Attorney General Alan Wilson has taken legal action against the Biden-Harris administration by filing a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The brief aims to halt an electric-vehicle mandate affecting truck manufacturers, introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A coalition of 24 states is challenging this new rule in the case of Nebraska v. EPA.

"This is yet another overreach by the Biden-Harris administration trying to do something they don’t have the authority to do," stated Attorney General Wilson. He expressed concerns about potential economic impacts, adding, "But more importantly, it will raise the price on all of us for almost everything that gets shipped by truck."

The EPA's rule, published in April, enforces strict tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. This regulation effectively compels manufacturers to increase production of electric trucks while reducing internal combustion engine models. According to attorneys general involved in the case, this raises a "major question" not clearly authorized by Congress for EPA decision-making.

Currently, only 0.10 percent of heavy-duty trucks are battery-powered. However, under the new rule, this figure could rise to 45 percent within ten years. The attorneys general argue that such a rapid transition would disrupt national trucking and logistics sectors, slow essential goods transportation, stress electrical infrastructure, and elevate costs for consumers.

The brief further contends that forcing manufacturers to produce heavy-duty electric vehicles is unprecedented and suggests that leaving this mandate unchallenged would bypass necessary policy discussions best suited for Congress and state governments.

Joining Attorney General Wilson in opposition are attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (the lead state), Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas South Dakota Utah Virginia West Virginia and Wyoming.