API, Coalition Partners Urge Court to Reverse EPA’s New Vehicle Emissions Standards

WASHINGTON, September 9, 2024 – The American Petroleum Institute (API) has joined co-litigants in filing a legal brief in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. 

“EPA exceeded its congressional authority with this unlawful regulation that will eliminate the sale of most new gas-powered cars in less than a decade, regardless of consumer demand or our nation’s energy security. We urge the court to move expeditiously to protect American consumers by striking down this intrusive government mandate,” API Senior Vice President and General Counsel Ryan Meyers said. 

The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and a group of six auto dealers representing sixteen brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined in June to challenge this unlawful mandate.

“By approving tailpipe standards that focus exclusively on electric vehicles, EPA has ignored the proven benefits corn ethanol plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change. While it could take decades to get enough electric vehicles on the road to significantly lower GHG emissions, ethanol is a critical and effective climate solution that is available now. We have tried to make this case to EPA to no avail, and now we will make our case in court,” Minnesota farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle said.

“This rule would increase the price of farm vehicles and force farmers to rely on a charging network that does not yet exist. Unrealistic emissions goals also pull the rug out from underneath farmers, who answered the call to grow the crops necessary to produce renewable fuels,” President of the American Farm Bureau Federation Zippy Duvall said.

API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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