Weiser says Colorado will challenge the federal government’s ‘misguided’ rollback of clean car standards

March 31, 2020 (DENVER, Colo.)— Attorney General Phil Weiser released the following statement regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule that creates one national fuel economy standard for cars and trucks and reverses years of progress that states have made to improve air quality and protect public health:

“The administration’s rollback of clean car standards will harm public health and air quality. It rejects science, innovation, and the American problem-solving spirit, leaving America to trail the world in this important frontier.

“The EPA’s misguided rollback is at odds with the agency’s own science and data, which show that the weaker fuel economy standards will increase air pollution, cost consumers more at the pump, and fail to make the nation’s roads safer.

“Additionally, the EPA rollback is at odds with some automakers that support annual increases in fuel economy standards to meet the national demand for affordable, low-emission and zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) to combat air pollution and climate change.

“The administration’s rollback also is an attack on the Clean Air Act and the authority of states, like Colorado, to adopt stronger tailpipe pollution limits than those set by the federal government. The EPA’s move threatens to thwart Colorado’s ZEV program, which was implemented to improve air quality, reduce harmful ozone pollution, decrease fuel costs, and increase choices that Colorado customers have when purchasing an electric vehicle.

“Protecting our land, air, and water is one of my top priorities, and the State will challenge the federal government’s rollback of our clean car standards. I will continue to fight for clean air and public health in Colorado.”

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Contact: Lawrence Pacheco

Director of Communications

Mobile: (720) 245-4689

lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov