Wyoming senators not happy with EPA's new vehicle emission standards

Wyoming's U.S. senators, John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, are not happy with the Environmental Protection Agency's new vehicle emissions standards.

The EPA says the new standards, which will be phased in from 2027 through 2032, are necessary to combat climate change and air pollution, cutting carbon emissions by 7 billion tons. The agency projects the rule could mean 56% of new vehicles sold would be electric.

Republicans argue the rule is the latest action by Democrats to force consumers into electric vehicles, which have seen sales slow down.

“The Biden administration is trying to force Americans into expensive electric vehicles (EVs) they don’t want, don’t need, and cannot afford,” Sen. Barrasso said in a press release. “Democrats are already telling Americans what kind of stoves to cook with; Now they want to control every room in your house – even your garage.”

Sen. Lummis, chair of the Senate Western Caucus, said the mandate is not what the people of her state need at this time.

“Rather than forcing families across the west to purchase expensive EVs that are ill-equipped to handle harsh winters and terrain at a time when they are already spending more money than ever to keep up with soaring inflation rates, I am joining my colleagues in protecting consumer choice by working to overturn this administration’s tone-deaf mandate,” Lummis said.

The standards will apply to new passenger cars and light trucks.

"With transportation as the largest source of U.S. climate emissions, these strongest-ever pollution standards for cars solidify America’s leadership in building a clean transportation future and creating good-paying American jobs, all while advancing President [Joe] Biden’s historic climate agenda,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a news release.