By Nick Fitzmaurice
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new vehicle pollution standard was one of many federal rules finalized this spring, requiring more than half of new car sales in the U.S. to be electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. Nationally, petroleum fuel burned for transportation is one of the largest contributors to climate change, accounting for about 28% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. In Montana, transportation is the third-highest emitter behind electric power generation and agriculture, contributing about 16% of state-wide emissions.
By gradually increasing regulation on greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions from passenger vehicle tailpipe exhaust, the rule encourages cleaner and safer automobile manufacturing to the benefit of public health, the economy, and the environment. This rule will prevent over seven billion tons of CO2 emissions over the next 30 years, equivalent to a year’s worth of economy-wide emissions in the U.S. It will also result in nearly $100 billion in annual net benefits to society, including approximately $6,000 in annual savings for the average driver through reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
MEIC has spoken up to Montana’s congressional delegation to protect this rule in response to a seven-figure campaign launched by the fossil fuel industry to reverse it. Contrary to industry claims, this rule is not an EV mandate, nor is it a ban on the sale of gas cars. These standards apply across automobile fleets, allowing manufacturers to continue providing various vehicle options to customers as long as the overall fleet meets the pollution requirements. The new rule addresses one of the nation’s largest sources of climate-damaging greenhouse gases as a critical step towards decarbonizing all sectors of the U.S. economy, saving lives, bolstering economic productivity, and reducing damage to Montana’s natural resources and public health.
This article was published in the July 2024 issue of Down To Earth.
