Trump fuel move sets up battle in court
DETROIT — President Donald Trump’s decision to re-examine Obama-era rules that govern automobile gas mileage could be the first round of a potentially bruising political fight: revoking the ability of California and other Democratic-leaning states to set their own, tougher car-emission standards.
California’s unique status dates to 1970, in the early days of the Clean Air Act. Because of the state’s smoggy skies, Congress gave California a “waiver,” allowing it to set stricter pollution standards than the rest of the nation. The California standard is now used by at least a dozen, mostly Northeastern states, including New York and Massachusetts.
The Trump administration has said it wants one uniform fuel mileage requirement for automakers across the nation.
California Gov. Jerry Brown denounced the move, telling Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt in a letter Wednesday it was a “gift to polluters.” Brown warned automakers in another letter Wednesday that his state would take the “necessary steps” to preserve its current emissions standards.
California filed a motion late Tuesday to intervene in a new lawsuit brought by auto manufacturers against the EPA, a move immediately joined by New York State.