“Car ownership is essential to the American Dream and a major driver of economic mobility out of poverty. By lowering the cost of compliance with greenhouse gas regulations, not only will the price of trucks and regular vehicles be much cheaper, but it will also have the effect of lowering the cost of living for American households.”

 U.S. President Donald Trump has signed the largest deregulation measure in American history.

On the 12th (local time), EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced President Trump's executive order, "Energy Liberation of America," at the White House's Roosevelt Room, which abolishes the Obama administration's 2009 greenhouse gas (GHG) risk assessment and federal greenhouse gas emission standards for all vehicles and engines from 2012 to after 2027. 

The Obama EPA risk assessment, introduced in 2009, stated that "three greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations under the Clean Air Act."

Farewell to the Inconvenient 'Start-Stop' Function

The announcement of "Energy Liberation of America" includes the abolition of the 'start-stop' function, which inconveniences all drivers, and the abolition of 'off-cycle credits' that benefit solar roofs and high-efficiency lighting.

Workers installing solar roofs. President Trump's executive order 'Energy Liberation of America' includes the abolition of 'off-cycle credits' that benefit solar roofs and high-efficiency lighting. 

Administrator Zeldin stated, "The final rule from Trump and the EPA aims to eliminate the regulatory requirements for measuring, reporting, certifying, and complying with federal greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles, and to abolish greenhouse gas regulatory compliance programs, credit provisions, and reporting obligations."

He added, "Over the past year, I have traveled to all 50 states and heard from countless Americans that most environmental protection regulations, including vehicle start-stop functions, are unnecessary. For 16 years, they have restricted consumer choice and imposed trillions of dollars in costs on Americans."

He further emphasized, "This deregulation of greenhouse gas emissions will provide cost savings benefits of at least $1.3 trillion (approximately 1877 trillion won)."

He also stressed, "Car ownership is essential to the American Dream and a major driver of economic mobility out of poverty. By lowering the costs of vehicles and regulatory compliance, not only will the price of trucks and regular vehicles be much cheaper, but it will also have the effect of lowering the cost of living for American households."

Americans Shed $1.3 Trillion in Regulations

On the same day, White House spokesperson Caroline Rabbit stated, "The reversal of the 2009 ruling will be the largest deregulation measure in American history, allowing Americans to shed $1.3 trillion in regulations."

U.S. President Donald Trump. [AFP=Yonhap News]However, some states do not support Trump's executive order. For example, Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated his support for the 'scientific basis of the 2009 guidance.'

According to Fox News, Polis issued a statement saying, "Protecting people's health and making our air cleaner should never be a partisan issue. Scientific findings show that pollution from cars and trucks harms air quality and poses a risk to the health of children and the elderly in particular."

He also emphasized, "Reversing long-standing safeguards creates uncertainty for both consumers and businesses. Now is the time to invest in cleaner air, innovation, and energy diversity."

Meanwhile, President Trump has characterized the climate crisis as a 'lie' or 'fraud' since taking office for his second term, withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, cut funding for global warming research, and eliminated tax credits for electric vehicle purchases.

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Reporter Lim Yo-hee