On Feb. 12, President Donald Trump and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that they would be eliminating the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding — the biggest act of deregulation in U.S. history.
The deregulation includes former President Barack Obama’s 2009 GHG Endangerment Finding and related emission standards for vehicles and engines from models that are from 2012 to 2027 and future models. It is expected that this change will save American taxpayers over $1.3 trillion.
“The Endangerment Finding has been the source of 16 years of consumer choice restrictions and trillions of dollars in hidden costs for Americans,” Zeldin said. “Referred to by some as the ‘Holy Grail’ of the ‘climate change religion,’ the Endangerment Finding is now eliminated. The Trump EPA is strictly following the letter of the law, returning commonsense to policy, delivering consumer choice to Americans and advancing the American Dream. As EPA Administrator, I am proud to deliver the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history on behalf of American taxpayers and consumers. As an added bonus, the off-cycle credit for the almost universally despised start-stop feature on vehicles has been removed.”
On Dec. 7, 2009, the Obama-era EPA found two endangerment findings under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act that GHG emissions harmed public health and welfare:
- Six GHGs – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride harm current and future generations.
- The six GHGs are found in motor vehicle emissions, contributing to their overall pollution that harms public welfare.
The increase in GHG contributions to air pollution also leads to the ongoing climate crisis and increase in global warming. This can lead to an increase in deaths and illness from severe heat, respiratory issues, a rise in diseases such as Lyme disease and worsened extremities in the production of aeroallergens and an increase in natural disasters caused by a quickly shifting climate.
The change is expected to be a big win for oil and gasoline companies and gas-reliant car manufacturers. However, the electric vehicle industry is expected to take quite a blow from the decision.
Detroit, also known as the “Motor City” and the automobile capital of the U.S., is one of the country’s biggest vehicle manufacturers, but has been facing economic struggles since the ongoing tariff war between the U.S. and Canada.
While some Michigan officials believe that this will lower costs and boost the economic growth of the state’s auto industry, many are also worried about the deregulation’s environmental implications in the Great Lakes State.
The Michigan Department of Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) replied to the EPA changes in a written statement, arguing that it “significantly affects” the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“At this time, it is unclear what impact these federal changes may have on Michigan’s regulatory framework. Regardless, EGLE remains committed to protecting the environment and public health and will continue enforcing all applicable air quality rules and regulations,” the agency said.
Michigan government officials have their own policies towards environmental protection, including air quality standards established by the federal Clean Air Act. Auto companies will soon have to adjust to the changing standards, having to reroute their own systems of manufacturin,g but still maintain their net growth as a company.
