West Virginia Attorney General Disapproves of EPA's New Electric Vehicle Regulation

April 13, 2023

Mountaineer News

West Virginia AG

CHARLESTON, WV (Mountaineer News) - West Virginia is again at odds with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), less than a year after a Supreme Court victory against the agency's regulations. The EPA recently announced plans to introduce rules requiring up to two-thirds of vehicles in the United States to be electric by 2032, a move that Attorney General Patrick Morrisey vehemently opposes.

Morrisey, currently running for governor, stated that he has serious concerns about the EPA's proposal, arguing that it would harm America's energy security and independence by increasing dependence on foreign resources and components. He also worries about the entanglement with countries like China and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produce the minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries.

The EPA, however, argues that the proposed regulations would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 10 billion tons, equivalent to more than twice the total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated that the proposal aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to protecting people and the planet while providing significant economic benefits.

Morrisey contends that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. EPA clarifies that the EPA has no right to impose regulatory schemes that dictate policy for the country. The order stated that such a decision should rest with Congress or an agency acting under a clear delegation from Congress.

Moreover, Morrisey argues that the new EPA guidelines are problematic because they set greenhouse emissions limits for passenger vehicles between 2027 and 2032, with stricter goals than the plan agreed upon by the auto industry in 2021. He claims that the Biden administration's focus on electric vehicles is putting a strain on the nation's electrical energy grids, which have already been weakened by measures taken against coal. Morrisey believes that the EPA is ignoring the challenges of producing and distributing electric vehicles, especially if such proposals are adopted.

Despite these concerns, the EPA has signaled its intention to proceed with the proposal. Morrisey, however, has vowed to continue looking at the new rules and prepare to lead an effort against the energy proposal.