Clean Air Watch
Bill Introduced in U.S. House that would Raise Restrictions on EV Tax Credit Qualifications
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation A bill was introduced in Congress by U.S. Representative Carol Miller (R-WV) that would make it harder for electric vehicles (EVs) to qualify for EV tax credits. Under regulation set by Treasury under authority set in the Inflation Reduction Act, an EV is not eligible for the…
Read MoreU.S. Senate Passes Resolution that would Overturn Highway Emissions Rule
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The United States Senate voted 53-47 to overturn a rule previously issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The rule requires states to calculate greenhouse gas emissions caused by highway usage. It also requires each state to set targets, determined by the state, to reduce those emissions.…
Read MoreUS EPA Issues Final Rule on Vehicle Tailpipe Emissions
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued its finalized rule on vehicle emissions. It requires that, across an automaker’s entire fleet, the vehicles’ emissions are reduced 49 percent on average from 2027 to 2032. This rule was initially proposed in the spring of 2023. At…
Read MoreCalifornia Air Resources Board Announces New Clean Truck Check OBD Requirements
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced that new Clean Truck Check OBD requirements will be instituted sometime in early 2024. When it was launched in 2023, the Clean Truck Check OBD requirement – which applies to diesel and diesel hybrid heavy-duty vehicles model 2013 and…
Read MoreASA Launches “Repair Policy Scan Tool” Legislative Newsletter
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation Lawmakers rely on constituent feedback to make good decisions. Staying informed about the laws they are considering that could impact an auto repair shop owner or operator’s ability to run a successful business empowers repairers to speak up in crucial moments. But it’s hard to keep up…
Read MoreUPDATE: EPA Sends Tailpipe Emissions Proposal to White House for Final Review
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sent its high profile tailpipe rules proposal to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final review. The proposal’s intended impact is for 67 percent of light-vehicles sold in the United States by 2032 to electric vehicles…
Read MoreBiden Admin Awards $623 Million in Grants to Expand EV Charging Infrastructure
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The Biden Administration has announced that it has awarded grants worth a combined $623 million to help expand EV charging infrastructure in the United States. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the grants are funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which allocated…
Read MoreUPDATE: U.S. House to Vote on Imported Material Exception for EV Chargers
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The United States House of Representatives plans to vote this week on a resolution that would nullify a rule – finalized by the Federal Highway Administration – that would temporarily waive certain domestic content requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs…
Read MoreU.S. Senators Raise Alarm on Alleged Tesla Safety Flaws
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation United States Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have sent a letter to Elon Musk following a report from Reuters on Tesla vehicles’ safety flaws. In their letter, the Senators note that, “[t]he report details complaints about suspension connection points, including fore and aft links,…
Read MoreProgress Towards Building EV Charging Network using Federal Dollars Varies by State
House Committees Schedule Markups on Key Automotive Legislation The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 allocated $7.5 billion towards building a national EV charging network. Each state assumes responsibility for spending those funds and implementation oversight. As expected, the current status this endeavor varies by state. No EV charger installed using these federal…
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