Attorney General Miyares Calls on EPA to Block California’s Electric-Truck Mandate

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined a coalition of 24 states in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain a federal block on California’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. This rule, stemming from a 2020 executive order by California Governor Gavin Newsom, would require trucking companies—including those operating in California only a few days a year—to switch to electric trucks.

Miyares criticized the regulation, calling it an attempt by California to impose its environmental policies on the entire nation. “California is playing games with America’s livelihood,” he stated. “This mandate doesn’t just affect California—it weaponizes the state’s massive ports to force the nation to bow to an extreme environmental agenda.”

The Clean Air Act grants the federal government sole authority to set vehicle emissions standards. California is the only state that can request a waiver to create its standards. California has requested such a waiver for the ACF regulation, prompting the EPA to seek public comments on whether to approve it.

Miyares and the coalition argue that allowing California to enforce this electric-truck mandate would disrupt American industry, weaken the power grid, and raise family costs. They further assert that this mandate would give California unconstitutional authority over national transportation.

They claim the potential nationwide effects include forcing trucking companies to retire their internal combustion engine trucks and raising prices for consumers due to supply chain disruptions.

Attorneys general from Alabama, Texas, Georgia, and 21 other states have also signed the letter opposing California’s regulation.

The full comment letter to the EPA can be read here.