HONOLULU — Hawaii has joined a 19-state coalition and the District of Columbia that is challenging the Trump administration's rollback of the Clean Air Rule, which the coalition says will cost Americans an additional $193 billion to $236 billion in gas and will add carbon emissions.
The coalition of attorneys general, which includes states that have adopted California's standards of reducing vehicle emissions and improve gas mileage, argues that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rollback will lead to health risks and higher costs for drivers.
“Hawaii strongly supports the 2012 federal car standards," Hawaii Gov. David Ige said in a statement. "Clean vehicles reduce pollution and protect the health of our communities, and these standards are a key tool in fighting climate change. At a time when global innovation is focused on transforming to a sustainable energy future, the EPA’s move is out of step and taking us in the wrong direction.”
"We are prepared to go to court to put the brakes on this reckless and illegal plan," the attorneys general said in their joint statement.