EPA chief, Lee Zeldin, advocates for scrapping Obama-era climate regulations during an interview with a CNN anchor.
In a move that has sparked controversy, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has defended the repeal of Obama-era climate change regulations, which were part of the basis for the Biden administration's electric vehicle mandate. Zeldin argues that the Endangerment Finding, published by the Obama-era EPA, imposes overbearing regulatory costs on U.S. industry and consumers.
The Endangerment Finding, established in 2009, provides the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, including standards affecting vehicles. Zeldin characterizes the associated regulations as part of a "Net Zero agenda," which he and allies describe as a "fantasy" or a "house of cards."
Zeldin asserts that the Endangerment Finding underpins a costly regulatory framework that imposes over $1 trillion in "hidden taxes," drives up energy and vehicle costs, and restricts consumer choice. He particularly criticizes its role in enabling the Biden administration’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate.
The repeal of the regulations, announced by Zeldin in July as the "largest deregulatory announcement in US history," may impact the viability of companies in various industries, including auto, air travel, and energy. It may also end over a decade of uncertainty for American automakers and consumers.
However, the move to repeal faces both scientific and legal challenges. Legal experts warn that repealing the Endangerment Finding is a "very high-risk strategy," potentially exposing industries to more lawsuits and encouraging states, especially those led by Democrats, to enact their own climate regulations. The scientific basis of the Endangerment Finding has been upheld repeatedly in courts, showing it is grounded in substantial evidence.
Moreover, Zeldin has been accused by critics of attempting to regulate the coal industry out of existence and going beyond the agency's mandate to regulate vehicles as stipulated by the law. Some states have vowed to save the regulations from the repeal, promising court fights to challenge the decision.
In summary, Zeldin's arguments focus on economic impacts, consumer choice, and opposition to what he views as regulatory overreach linked to the Endangerment Finding and its role in the electric vehicle mandate. However, the move to repeal faces scientific and legal challenges and broader implications for climate regulation enforcement.
- The Endangerment Finding, a legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, is under scrutiny now due to the EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's proposal to repeal it.
- Zeldin's argument against the Endangerment Finding emphasizes economic concerns, arguing that it imposes burdensome regulatory costs on U.S. industries and consumers, particularly affecting the electric vehicle market.
- The scientific community has backed the Endangerment Finding, with its basis in substantial evidence, raising concerns about Zeldin's proposal to repeal it, as it may face legal challenges.
- Some critics argue that Zeldin's intentions in repealing the Endangerment Finding go beyond the EPA's mandate and may have greater implications for climate regulation enforcement across different industries, including automobile manufacturing and energy.
