A coalition of fuel trade groups and other organizations are challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's new tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles, continuing their pushback against what they say are Biden administration efforts to force a transition to electric vehicles.

The 12 plaintiffs, which include the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Energy Marketers of America and National Association of Convenience Stores, on Tuesday filed a challenge to the emissions rules in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 


   The groups claim EPA exceeded its authority by adopting the stringent standards   in March.

"The EPA does not have authority under the Clean Air Act to restrict Americans' access to or use of internal combustion engine technology," said Rich Moskowitz, general counsel for the fuel and petrochemical manufacturers group.

"The heavy-duty vehicle regulation finalized this spring aims to phase out trucks that run on American-made, American-grown diesel, biodiesel, renewable diesel and renewable natural gas. Americans will pay dearly because of it."

While the Biden administration has not imposed an outright ban on gasoline-powered vehicles, critics say new rules governing vehicle emissions and mileage are so strict they will force a transition to EVs.

The administration has said the heavy-duty rules, which apply to trucks and buses for model years 2027 through 2032, are technology neutral, and permit manufacturers to choose what emissions control technologies they employ.

But the rules faced opposition as soon as they were adopted, with trucking trade groups saying the standards will force the use of unproven and expensive technologies such as electrification and hydrogen power.

Last month, a group of Republican state attorneys general filed suit challenging the EPA standards.

EPA declined to comment on the challenge Tuesday, with a spokesman saying the agency did not comment on pending litigation.

Many of the organizations involved in Tuesday's legal challenge were also behind a challenge filed last week asking the D.C. court to overturn new EPA tailpipe emission standards for light-duty vehicles.

Groups involved in Tuesday's action also include the California Asphalt Pavement Association; the California Manufacturers & Technology Association; the Consumer Energy Alliance; Domestic Energy Producers Alliance; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge No. 823; Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association; the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma; Texas Oil & Gas Association; and the Western States Petroleum Association.


This content was created by Oil Price Information Service, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. OPIS is run independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. 


 
   --Reporting by Steve Cronin, scronin@opisnet.com; Editing by Michael Kelly,   mkelly@opisnet.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-18-24 1625ET