Trump Kills Climate Rules
The Trump administration rescinded the EPA's greenhouse gas endangerment finding, eliminating 17 years of federal climate regulations in what Trump called "the single largest deregulatory action in American history." The move immediately removes climate pollution rules from transportation and creates uncertainty for future power plant regulations, while the administration claims it will save consumers $2,400 on new vehicles.
- The "endangerment finding" was a 2009 determination by the EPA, prompted by the 2007 Supreme Court case *Massachusetts v. EPA*, which established that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. This finding was the legal basis for most federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. - The Trump administration's repeal of the finding is expected to face immediate legal challenges from environmental groups and states like California. Courts have consistently upheld the endangerment finding in previous legal challenges. - Without the endangerment finding, the EPA loses its authority to regulate greenhouse gases from sources like vehicles, power plants, and oil and gas facilities. This action eliminates all federal greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles from model years 2012 through 2027 and beyond. - Proponents of the repeal, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, argue that the original finding was a regulatory overreach and that its removal will save Americans $1.3 trillion, including an average of over $2,400 per new vehicle. - Critics argue the move ignores scientific consensus on climate change and will lead to increased air pollution. The Environmental Defense Fund estimates the repeal could lead to an additional 58,000 deaths and 37 million more asthma attacks by 2055. - The administration's own analysis projects that the repeal could increase fuel prices by 25 cents per gallon by 2035, costing consumers up to an additional $1.7 trillion at the pump. - This deregulation is part of a broader administration strategy that includes weakening Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, repealing fines for automakers who miss federal mileage standards, and ending consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. - The repeal could lead to a patchwork of state-level regulations, as states like California are expected to continue enforcing their own stricter emissions standards, creating uncertainty for the auto industry.
