This month ConservAmerica filed a friend of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Diamond Alternative Energy v. U.S. EPA, in support of the petitioner, arguing that the Court should grant third party standing and address the merits of the case involving the impacts to downstream parties as a result of EPA’s waiver of California’s tailpipe regulations mandating 100% sales of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035.
ConservAmerica has long argued that while EVs will likely play an important role in reducing emissions and fighting climate change, California’s rapid, wholesale move away from gasoline-powered vehicles to fully electric is bad for the environment and the nation as a whole and will not achieve the climate benefits touted by the state. In granting California’s waiver request, EPA failed to consider total emissions produced during the full life-cycle of EV manufacturing and other widespread environmental impacts from China’s production of lithium-ion batteries as well as impacts to conservation funding in the U.S. derived from oil and gas leases. The D.C. Circuit’s refusal to hear the case we believe is detrimental to good policy, environmental outcomes, private property and the economy. One of ConservAmerica’s fundamental tenets is that a strong economy and a healthy environment must go hand in hand if we are to pass on a better world to our children and grandchildren. We remain optimistic the Supreme Court will hear the case and ruling accordingly.
To read the full Amicus Brief click here.