Joint Statement from the Pacific Coast Collaborative elected leaders in response to the EPA’s decision to weaken federal emissions standards for vehicles

by | Apr 2, 2018 | Joint Statement, Transportation

A highway at sunset with a city skyline in the background

By the Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington, and the Mayors of Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle

April  2, 2018

“As members of the Pacific Coast Collaborative and representing a West Coast region of more than 55 million people with a combined GDP of $3 trillion, the governors of California, Washington and Oregon, and the mayors of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Portland and Seattle speak today in unified opposition to the federal decision to weaken the national fuel efficiency standards for model year 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles. This move sets us back from years of advancements by the automotive industry put in motion by states that took the lead in setting emission standards. These standards have cleared the haze and smog from our cities and reversed decades of chronic air pollution problems, while putting more money in consumers’ pockets.

“Our job as governors and mayors is to boost our region’s economic opportunities and to make our cities and states cleaner and healthier for our residents and businesses. This decision does the exact opposite, making America more dependent on oil while putting more lives at risk from pollution and shortchanging consumers at the pump.

“We believe that strong vehicle fuel economy standards not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, but also make us competitive in the growing global market for clean cars. The nation is on track to meet the current standards and will not change course at the expense of our economic strength, health and quality of life.”

Jointly signed by:

California Governor Jerry Brown

Oregon Governor Kate Brown

Washington Governor Jay Inslee

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan

Facts about the West Coast’s low-carbon transportation sector:

  • The U.S. West Coast is on the path to zero-emission transportation and increased mobility choices. Transportation accounts for around 40% of greenhouse gas emissions on the West Coast. California, Oregon and Washington are working together with British Columbia and major West Coast Cities to promote transportation electrification by aligning planning and investments in electric vehicle charging along the West Coast Electric Highway and accelerating market development by making zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) more available and affordable to residents and fleets.
  • Over 350,000 zero and low emission vehicles are on the road in a fast-growing West Coast market. ZEV sales have grown nearly 25% annually in the last three years.
  • According to U.S. Department of Energy data, California, Oregon, and Washington have over 17,500 publicly-accessible EV charging stations.
  • The three West Coast states and major West Coast cities are investing in many types of new, low-carbon mobility including fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure, low-carbon shared and autonomous vehicles, electrified transit, and low-carbon medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
  • A Request for Information initiated by West Coast cities grew to 30 cities nationally, demonstrating demand for more than 100,000 zero-emission vehicles of all types in these cities alone, representing $10 billion in investment.