Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is leading a coalition of eight state attorneys general in supporting Ohio’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over California’s electric vehicle mandates. California’s mandate, passed in August 2022 by the California Air Resources Board, requires all new cars and vehicles sold in the state to be electric by 2035. The goal of this mandate is to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, Bird and others argue that the EPA violated states‘ equal sovereignty rights by allowing California to set its own regulatory standards while preventing other states from doing the same.
In a press release, Bird expressed concerns that California’s electric vehicle mandate would increase costs for consumers in other states and limit their options for new cars. She stated, “I will not stand by as American families are forced to pay the price for California’s green car mandates. California and the Biden-Harris EPA are eliminating purchasing options for families across the country and mandating they buy more expensive electric cars at a time when they are already struggling to make ends meet. The law is clear; California does not have the power to mandate the cars Iowans drive.”
Bird is joined in this effort by the Republican attorneys general from the states of Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. The coalition argues in their amicus brief that California’s significant market influence forces the automotive industry nationwide to conform to California regulations, even when the market demand for electric vehicles may not be as high. This results in manufacturers having to invest more resources to meet these regulations, leading to increased costs for consumers in other states.
This is not the first time Bird has taken a stand against California’s electric vehicle rules. In May, she joined a lawsuit challenging a California regulation that aimed to ban internal combustion engines in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045 and the sale of larger diesel vehicles by 2036. Bird’s consistent opposition to California’s regulations highlights her commitment to protecting the interests of consumers and states‘ rights.
The coalition’s brief emphasizes the financial burden placed on states that are forced to subsidize California’s stringent regulatory framework while being prohibited from implementing their own regulations. By supporting Ohio’s lawsuit against the EPA, Bird and the other attorneys general are advocating for fair and equal treatment among states when it comes to regulatory standards for electric vehicles.
In conclusion, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s leadership in challenging California’s electric vehicle mandates demonstrates her dedication to upholding states‘ rights and protecting consumers from increased costs. The coalition of attorneys general is working to ensure that all states have a voice in setting regulatory standards for the automotive industry, rather than allowing California to dictate nationwide policies. By filing this court brief, Bird and her colleagues are advocating for a more balanced and equitable approach to electric vehicle regulations.