NACS joined other energy associations, including NATSO and SIGMA, to file comments in response to the EPA’s proposed rule on tailpipe emissions standards. The rule could result in EVs accounting for 67% of new light-duty vehicles sales by 2032.
The associations argue that pursuing one solution, such as electric vehicles, does not mean “abandoning others.”
“We are concerned that EPA is pursuing a single technology as the solution to decarbonize light-duty transportation. The speed at which the Agency appears to anticipate the market and consumers will transition to electric vehicles is divorced from our members’ assessment of reality. The Proposed Rule does not appreciate the market obstacles associated with such a massive transition in consumer behavior. It also abandons proven decarbonization technologies, such as higher-octane liquid fuels, that can deliver material emissions reductions using existing infrastructure, existing vehicles, and working with consumers’ existing behavior,” the letter said.
While the associations agree with the EPA’s plan to reduce carbon emissions, they believe the execution is flawed. The comments argue that the Proposed Rule oversteps the EPA’s authority as it cannot mandate such standards for reducing greenhouse gasses which favor new technologies like electric vehicles.
The associations champion the use of renewable liquid fuels like biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) as well as other low-carbon fuels such as renewable natural gas, compressed natural gas and renewable diesel.
The comments continue by stating, “These liquid fuels are all mostly compatible with existing infrastructure that was originally developed for hydrocarbons and is already ubiquitous throughout the country. Biofuels and other renewable fuels work to build and maintain a competitive marketplace, maximize the climate benefits of liquid fuels, minimize fuel supply disruptions and impose meaningful downward pressure on fuel prices. Existing alternative fuel incentives, including the Renewable Fuel Standard and biofuel blending and alternative fuel infrastructure tax credits, have successfully enabled our collective membership to build a robust renewable fuel value chain in the United States.”
The associations urge the EPA to work towards a solution to account for the future of fuels that takes advantage of the country’s existing infrastructure.