Corn growers battle emissions rule

By Andi Anderson

A coalition of energy, biofuel, and agriculture groups, including the Illinois Corn Growers Association, is taking their challenge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions mandate to the Supreme Court.

The group has filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, seeking to overturn an appeals court decision that rejected legal arguments from 17 states against California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate. These states argue the mandate violates their rights to set their own standards.

The EPA granted California a waiver for its 2021-2025 EV mandate, a move that has sparked significant opposition. Illinois lawmakers have considered adopting California's strict EV policies, but the coalition is fighting back.

The petition urges the Supreme Court to reverse the D.C. Circuit Court's decision, arguing that fuel providers have the standing to challenge the EPA’s waiver.

The coalition also seeks clarity on the authority of the EPA and California to mandate electric vehicles.

Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, stated, "We are asking the Supreme Court to reverse the D.C. Circuit’s erroneous holding and to provide long overdue clarity on the authority of EPA and California to mandate electric vehicles."

California announced a plan in 2022 to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The petition also seeks to ensure that the California waiver in the Clean Air Act does not limit consumer access to internal combustion engine technology.

Dave Loos, director of Biofuels with the Illinois Corn Growers Association, expressed concerns about the EPA's requirement that up to 56% of all car sales be electric by 2030.

Loos stated, "That’s very, very concerning to us as producers. We lose these bushels and that demand for ethanol, and it takes away options for the consumers."

Connecticut recently joined Virginia in rejecting California’s EV mandate.

Jeff Lenard, vice president of Strategic Industry Initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores, commented, "EPA should not have made California’s vehicle technology mandate a standard across much of the nation. We need innovations to improve all vehicle technologies to fight climate change."

This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate over state versus federal authority in setting vehicle emissions standards and the future of transportation technology in the U.S.

Photo Credit: illinois-corn-growers-association