BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general and three major cities in defending two Clean Air Act waivers granted to California by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aimed at curbing climate change and protecting public health.
The waivers, which authorize California to enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) and Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus regulations, are being challenged by the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
“Clean air is essential to Marylanders’ health and well-being,” Attorney General Brown said. “Because air pollution does not respect state lines, attorneys general from across the country must work together to reduce smog, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and keep Americans safe.”
California’s ACC II regulation requires automakers to increase sales of zero-emission vehicles, reaching 80% of passenger vehicle sales by 2035, with the remainder being plug-in hybrids. The Omnibus regulation enforces stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, targeting reductions in smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The coalition argues that the EPA waivers will drive innovation in cleaner vehicle technology, reduce harmful emissions, and protect vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by pollution.
Attorney General Brown is joined by counterparts from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, along with the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
The multistate coalition’s defense signals growing national support for aggressive clean air measures amid legal challenges.
