Missouri has become the 20th state to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to grant California the authority to phase out gas-powered medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2045. Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced Missouri's participation in the lawsuit, arguing that the EPA's endorsement of California's plan effectively constitutes an illegal ban and poses a threat to Missouri's economy, particularly the trucking industry. Bailey criticized the Biden administration for supporting the measure, which he believes will negatively impact the state's businesses.
The EPA, under Administrator Michael Regan, reinstated California's waiver under the Clean Air Act in March, allowing the state to set its own stricter emissions standards and zero-emission vehicle sales mandates. California's regulations mandate truck manufacturers to progressively increase sales of zero-emission vehicles while simultaneously decreasing the number of gas-powered vehicles on the roads. Several other states, including New York and Washington, have opted to follow California's lead in implementing similar rules. The lawsuit, initially filed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, contends that the EPA's decision will ultimately force the current trucking industry out of business, citing the fact that only a small percentage of heavy trucks currently sold in the U.S. are electric.
