US Transportation Department to Repeal Biden’s Highway Climate Rule for States
This move, approved by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, marks a reversal of the Biden-era regulation aimed at curbing emissions from transportation, the largest contributor to US greenhouse gases.
The rule, which came into effect in 2023, required states to measure highway emissions and establish declining targets to reduce them over time. While the rule did not mandate specific targets and provided states with flexibility, it was designed to assess progress without imposing penalties for not meeting the targets. The rule was blocked by a federal court, which argued that it reflected an unlawful regulatory burden and contradicted the broader goals of the Trump administration to reduce energy regulations.
As part of the broader policy shift, Duffy also signaled intentions to roll back the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which regulate the fuel efficiency of passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. The Biden-era standards aimed to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, but Duffy’s proposal seeks to align fuel economy regulations with the Trump administration’s agenda, which emphasizes promoting oil and biofuels.
The reversal of these policies comes in the wake of legal challenges from Texas and 21 other states that argued the USDOT lacked the authority to impose such a climate rule. Transportation Secretary Duffy, a former Republican congressman appointed by President Donald Trump, has emphasized the importance of deregulation, stating that the existing rules were incompatible with the administration’s broader goals of reducing regulatory burdens on the energy sector.
Under the previous administration, a rule introduced in 2018 rolled back an Obama-era requirement for states to track and report highway emissions. However, with the latest action from the Biden administration now being reversed, the regulatory landscape continues to shift between administrations.
The impact of this decision is being debated, with critics of the rollback warning that it could increase fuel consumption, raise costs for consumers at the gas pump, and harm efforts to combat climate change. They argue that stricter fuel economy standards are necessary to reduce tailpipe pollution and meet climate goals. On the other hand, supporters of the rollback argue that easing the fuel economy standards will provide consumers with more affordable vehicles and promote energy independence.
In recent years, the automotive industry has made significant strides in improving fuel efficiency, particularly for gasoline-powered vehicles. However, the rollback of stricter regulations raises concerns about the future of US efforts to transition toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation technologies. As the US grapples with its climate goals and energy policy, the outcome of this regulatory shift will likely play a key role in shaping the country’s transportation future.
With input from Reuters and the Associated Press.
