TRENTON, NJ  Elected Officials to Protect America’s (EOPA’s) second EV tour press event took place at the New Jersey State House where state and local elected officials urged Congress to defend life-saving EPA clean car standards against repeal and oppose any attempt to weaken or repeal them. A bill has been introduced in Congress to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal EPA’s latest tailpipe pollution standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles. 

New Jersey set ambitious climate goals with the Global Warming Response Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050, and Governor Phil Murphy’s Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The Energy Master Plan comprehensively addresses New Jersey’s energy system, including electricity generation, transportation, and buildings, and their associated greenhouse gas emissions and related air pollutants.

“The Environmental Protection Agency’s strong standards reduce greenhouse gas emissions dramatically and put us on the road to universal adoption of EVs. A new era of clean energy electricity is dawning. As we transition to EVs with offshore wind and other clean energy sources powering them, consumers won’t be subjected to fluctuating gas prices,” said Dominic Frongillo, Elected Officials to Protect America Executive Director and Co-Founder, former Council Member and Deputy Supervisor of Caroline, New York. “With federal and state incentives, EVs are affordable. Consumers can currently choose from up to 21 EV models available for less than $35,000. EVs help drive New Jersey’s transition to clean transportation forward for our climate, healthy communities and energy security for generations to come. Electrification is the future we must embrace.” 

EOPA – New Jersey, has been working on curtailing greenhouse gas emissions to protect public health on the road to a clean energy economy with hundreds of elected officials from across the state since 2018.

“Too many suffer from breathing toxic vehicle emissions. Electrification is our opportunity to reverse this course, bring prosperity and help ensure our energy security as we combat the climate crisis,” said State Senator Patrick J Diegnan, Jr., District 18. “We are on the road to a 100 percent clean energy economy, as long as we keep the EPA clean vehicle standards.”

 EPA’s standards were finalized on March 20 and published in the Federal Register on April 18. Automakers, auto workers, public health and medical professionals, faith leaders, consumer advocates, and environmentalists have all come out in support of these policies. The standards apply to vehicle model years 2027-2032. 

“The EPA standards will save consumers $62 billion in fuel costs and repairs while averting 7.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2055. Lower tailpipe emissions are key as we transition to zero-emission vehicles. They will protect millions who can’t avoid breathing in dirty gas emissions that lead to life-long ailments. In the process, the EPA new standards with more EVs manufactured in the U.S. will spur job creation, economic growth, and family cost savings. These strong EPA standards must be upheld,” said Commissioner Balvir Singh, Burlington County, EOPA New Jersey Leadership Council member.

 The Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress to rollback agency rulemaking by winning a simple majority vote in both chambers. CRA votes are subject to minimal floor debate, and cannot be filibustered. CRA resolutions can be vetoed by the President, but this veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

“Critically, the new EPA standards promote American energy security, averting 14 billion barrels of oil imports by 2055 through reduced gasoline consumption,” said Alex Cornell du Houx, former Maine State Representative, Marine combat veteran, and President of EOPA. ”The EPA’s new clean car standards benefit all Americans, regardless of what they choose to drive, by reducing life-threatening, tailpipe pollution. That’s why these standards are backed by the auto industry, environmentalists, and auto workers alike — and why it’s more important than ever for members of congress to defend them from attacks by the oil industry and its legislative allies.”

The transportation sector accounts for approximately 45 percent of NOx emissions in the U.S.; tailpipe pollution contains toxic and harmful compounds that pollute air quality and harm public health. As the new EPA standards reach peak strength, they will achieve a 58 to 70 percent reduction in NOx emissions from MDVs compared to the current standard.

Exposure to this air pollution can lead to health problems including increased risk of asthma attacks, strokes, heart attacks, cancer, and premature deaths. According to Statista, there are about 2.5 million registered cars on the roads in New Jersey. These facts make the EPA’s new vehicle emissions standards critical as a bridge on the road to a zero emissions future. 

“On a daily basis the invisible toxic particulates from gas emissions invade the lungs of unsuspecting people just by breathing air. Tragically, environmental justice communities suffer disproportionately the most from these pollutants that can lead to lung and cardiovascular disease, and premature death,” said Assemblymember Carol Murphy, District 7. “The EPA clean vehicle standards help put us on the road to zero emissions.”

The fossil fuel industry has neglected public health across the state, and held back clean energy production for too long. The state, nation and world will be positively impacted by the transition to EVs. 

 “The severe effects of the climate crisis only exacerbate public health problems caused by toxic fossil fuel air pollution, especially in environmental justice communities that are next to highways or near manufacturing and/or shipping facilities,” said Kaleem Shabazz, Atlantic City Council Vice President, EOPA New Jersey Leadership Council member. “Electrification is our opportunity to reverse this course, and help ensure our energy security as we address the climate emergency. We are headed in the right direction on the road to a clean energy economy as long as the EPA’s strong vehicle emissions standards are upheld by congress. That bridge is key for all our futures.”

  Since President Biden took office, companies have announced they will soon invest more than $150 billion in EV and battery manufacturing. Nearly 200,000 jobs have already been added to the economy — most of which were created since the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law.

In 2023, a record 1.2 million EVs were bought in the United States, with sales consistently greater each month than in the prior two years. EV interest will continue to grow as consumers gain more familiarity with them, and fast-charging public infrastructure is built out. 

Previously the tour stopped in New York. After New Jersey the tour continues on to Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The tour is led by Elected Officials to Protect America. EOPA partners for the tour include Climate Action Campaign, National Electric Vehicle Association, Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Charge EVC, Lightning Clubs of America. The Tour is made possible by Environmental Defense Fund, PSG&E, Zeem, and Lynkwell.

Elected Officials to Protect America is a network of current and former elected officials who care deeply about protecting the planet and people. EOPA is committed to solving the climate crisis, ensuring environmental justice, and protecting our lands, waters, and democracy. EOPA educates through value-based storytelling, trains lawmakers, and connects elected officials to inspire strong environmental leadership.