Senate Passes Bill To Turn Back New EPA Standards

The Senate narrowly advanced a bill April 26 to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed stricter emission standards for trucks. 

The resolution passed 50-49 on a swing vote by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), the lone Democrat to vote affirmatively. The bill will now move to the House, where similar legislation was already introduced by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Tex.). 

The proposed standards, announced April 12, are the third phase of the agency’s Clean Trucks Plan, which takes effect with model year 2027.   

Besides adding to the existing plan, the EPA also proposed another set of CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles that would begin in model year 2028, “with progressively lower standards each model year through 2032.”   

The full 717-page document can be viewed online. 

The EPA is hosting two virtual hearings on the proposal on May 2 and 3. Those who wish to either speak or listen must email EPA-HD-hearings@epa.gov.