The Biden administration finalized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks that almost fully erased changes by the Trump administration that, in turn, erased a rule finalized by the Obama administration.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday announced new federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2023 through 2026. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule summary announced the finalized standards. According to the rule summary, the new standards are consistent with the "Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks" Executive Order signed by President Joe Biden in August 2021.
An article for The Washington Post, by Dino Grandoni, Faiz Siddiqui, and Anna Phillips, provides more details on the announcement, headlining a comparison between the newly finalized rule and the actions of the previous administration. To describe the details of the new rule, the article includes this summary:
The standards for model years 2023 to 2026, signed Monday morning by EPA Administrator Michael Regan, require that cars, SUVs and pickup trucks release an average of 161 grams of carbon dioxide per mile by 2026. The new Biden standards are equivalent to an average of roughly 55 miles per gallon by 2026 in laboratory testing. The average figure appearing on window stickers — and advertised EPA mileage — would be 40 mpg.
While those standards appear drastic, they don't erase the rollback of emissions standards imposed by the Trump administration. Obama-era rules "would have achieved nearly the same emission cuts a year earlier," according to the article.
The article also notes that the new emissions standards fall short of the lofty ambitions of the Build Back Better bill, which was delt a final blow by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) a few days earlier.
The new limits on tailpipe emissions for the next four years mark President Biden’s biggest step yet to tackle climate change, but the move comes as critical components of his plan for an all-electric future just suffered a major blow on Capitol Hill. On Sunday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced he would not support his party’s Build Back Better plan, which would have provided billions in federal support for building charging stations and encouraging consumers to buy electric vehicles.
FULL STORY: New Biden rule reducing climate emissions from cars and SUVs reverses major Trump rollback
Emissions Benefits of the Biden Administration's New Tailpipe Emissions Rules
Emissions prevented by new tailpipe standards announced by the Biden administration in December 2021 will be measured in the billions.
Biden Administration Hits Automotive Emissions Reset Button
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back Trump administration reductions of auto emission standards enacted by the Trump administration, and is taking first steps toward a new emissions agreement with automakers.
A Win for ‘Keep it in the Ground’
Coal mining in Wyoming will take a major hit as a result of a U.S. Department of Interior plan to cease future leasing of coal mines in the nation's most productive coal mining basin. The decision casts a spotlight on the presidential election.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research