The Enviromental Protection Agency announced Thursday a proposal to rollback a federal standard that aims to reduce carbon emissions from cars.
The “Clean Car Standard,” put in place by the Obama Administration in 2012, requires automakers to increase their cars’ fuel efficiency to about 54 miles per gallon by 2025.
However, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration want to ease up on that reqiuirement, freezing the increase at about 37 miles per gallon after 2020. That rule would be locked in until 2026.
The agencies also want to withdraw California’s waiver to the law, which allows the state to set it’s own, stricter clean car standards and permits other states to join California in setting a stricter rule. Currently, Washingtown D.C. along with 12 other states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, have adopted California’s stricter standard.
“Our proposal aims to strike the right regulatory balance based on the most recent information and create a 50-state solution that will enable more Americans to afford newer, safer vehicles that pollute less,” Andrew Wheeler, acting administrator for the EPA, said in a statement.
The EPA said if the the 2012 rule stays in place, it would add $2,340 to the cost of owning a new car.
However, Mike Healey, spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, said the proposed change would have a negative impact on the state and its air quality.
“Weakening the nation’s clean car standards will not only cost Rhode Islanders more at the pump, but it’s going to hurt children and senior citizens and it’s going to hinder our own ability to meet our own emission reduction targets,” Healey said.
Governor Gina Rainmondo said in a statement the state “will use every tool available to fight the Trump Admnistration’s shortsighted changes.”
Katie Gronendyke, press secretary for Massachuetts’ Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said in a statement the Baker-Polito Administration also opposes the proposal and will continue to adopt the best practices for protecting the environment and the health of its residents.
