CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, alongside a coalition of 24 states led by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, has successfully opposed California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which sought to mandate the use of electric trucks for fleet operators and manufacturers.
The regulation, backed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aimed to impose electric-truck requirements on fleet owners nationwide, even if their trucks operated in California for a single day. The coalition argued that California and the EPA exceeded their authority, infringing on states’ rights and jeopardizing the national trucking and transportation industry.
EPA Withdraws Regulation Under Pressure
In response to mounting legal and political pressure from the coalition, the EPA withdrew the mandate.
“This is a big win for the nation’s trucking industry, the incredible men and women who power our supply chain, and for common sense,” said Attorney General McCuskey. “This policy would have caused catastrophic job losses, increased costs, delayed shipments, and devastated the demand for diesel while putting a massive strain on the power grid needed to charge electric trucks.”
Economic Impact on West Virginia
Trucking is a vital component of West Virginia’s economy. According to the West Virginia Trucking Association:
- The industry supports 34,360 jobs statewide.
- Trucks transport 61% of total manufactured tonnage, moving approximately 65,448 tons per day.
- Over 84% of communities in the state rely solely on trucks to move goods.
McCuskey highlighted the potential harm such a mandate could have caused, stating that it would have disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of West Virginians and hindered critical supply chain operations.
Pending Legal Challenges
While the EPA has withdrawn the regulation, McCuskey noted that the coalition remains vigilant. A lawsuit challenging the regulation’s legality is still pending.
“Governor Patrick Morrisey joined the coalition of incredible Attorneys General to oppose this ridiculous rule,” McCuskey said. “I am proud to stand with Attorney General Hilgers of Nebraska and others as we continue the fight to protect our states’ rights and our economy.”
Looking Ahead
McCuskey criticized the broader climate agenda of the Biden administration, calling for a policy shift under President-elect Donald Trump. “The inauguration of President Trump can’t come soon enough so this nonsense radical climate agenda the Biden-Harris administration shoved down hardworking Americans’ throats will be a thing of the past,” he stated.
The trucking industry, both in West Virginia and nationwide, will continue to monitor developments as states push back against federal overreach in transportation and environmental policies.
