20 U.S. states, major cities urge Trump to drop fuel efficiency freeze

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of 20 U.S. states and several major cities on Friday urged the Trump administration to abandon a proposal to freeze fuel efficiency standards after 2020 and strip California of the ability to impose its own vehicle emissions rules.

FILE PHOTO: A highway carpool lane sits empty as traffic makes its way into Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 29, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

The states, including California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, called the Trump administration proposal "unlawful" and "reckless" in a 143-page document reviewed by Reuters ahead of its filing later Friday. The states have vowed to sue if regulators move forward with the proposal.

Also joining the effort are the District of Columbia, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco which argue the proposal "would deal a substantial blow in the fight against climate change." Separately, a group representing major automakers on Friday including General Motors Co (GM.N), Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) said it urged "the federal government to set achievable future standards that continue to advance environmental and energy goals while recognizing marketplace realities."

Automakers do not back freezing the standards. They are pressing California and the federal government to retain nationwide emissions rules and avoid a prolonged legal battle.

Honda Motor Co (7267.T) said Friday it "believes strong standards - on the order of 5 percent per year annual improvement - paired with policy incentives that support a transition to future vehicle electrification, can provide a balanced solution."

The proposal to freeze fuel efficiency standards has set up a major battle between the Trump administration and California over whether the largest U.S. state, which has made reducing greenhouse gas emissions a major priority, will continue to have authority to oversee vehicles.

In separate comments filed Friday, California said the proposal "would worsen air quality for the most vulnerable, waste billions of gallons of gasoline, forfeit our best chance to fight climate change and result in years of uncertainty in the marketplace."

California Governor Jerry Brown said at a news conference Friday that President Donald Trump was "taking steps to destroy the American automobile industry" and called him "a one-man demolition derby."

rest at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-vehicles-emissions/20-u-s-states-major-cities-urge-trump-to-drop-fuel-efficiency-freeze-idUSKCN1N02DP?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202018-10-29%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:17838%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive