Michigan has joined 22 other states to challenge an effort to roll back Obama-era fuel efficiency standards. Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the lawsuit Wednesday. The lawsuit claims new federal rules are illegal and would set back efforts to fight climate change.
“Even if the resulting damage is not immediate, it’s undeniably real and the Trump administration does a disservice to the American people both present and future by continuing to ignore it,” Nessel said.
The region is already experiencing effects such as flooding and other severe weather events.
Nessel said the effects of climate change can increase the dangers created by infrastructure failure.
“Last week, we saw a historic rain event that resulted in a dam failure and catastrophic flooding in Midland and Gladwin counties in our state,” said Nessel. “Now, instead of supporting common sense regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, the Trump administration is just doubling down in its support of the fossil fuel industry.”
Michigan’s auto companies are split on whether to support the new rules that roll back emissions standards for cars and trucks. The new federal rules set less-ambitious goals to boost fuel economy.
Nessel also said the new rules would be bad for the auto industry and its efforts to build new fleets of electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.
The lawsuit was filed with the federal court in Washington D.C.