Shafaqna English– A large group of states, cities, and counties sued the US Transportation Department on Friday. California and New York were the most prominent. About two dozen other local and state governments also joined.
The lawsuit challenges a decision finalized earlier this week. That decision sharply lowered vehicle fuel economy standards. Supporters say it helps gasoline-powered vehicles. Critics say it reverses years of environmental gains. The legal action shows growing conflict between states and federal agencies over energy policy.
The new standards aim to reverse Biden’s environmental legacy. Biden had focused on making cars more fuel-efficient and promoting electric vehicles. The revised rules take a different path. They favor gasoline-powered vehicles instead.
Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General, spoke out against the decision. He said the rules break legal requirements. The law says standards must be set at the maximum feasible level. That means regulators must push efficiency as far as possible. Bonta believes the new rules ignore this obligation. His argument forms the legal core of the lawsuit.
Source: Reuters