Interest groups sue Gov. Walz over Minnesota’s ‘Clean Car Rule’

Minn. Gov. Tim Walz (D) is facing a lawsuit over the state’s Clean Car Rule from a group of interest organizations. The petitioners, which include the American Petroleum Institute and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, argue that the rule, which requires all new vehicles sold in the state to meet certain emissions standards, is an illegal overreach of the governor’s executive powers.

A coalition of interest groups is taking legal action against Gov. Walz (D), contesting the Clean Car Rule, a Minnesota statute that mandates all new vehicles sold in the state to meet certain emissions standards. The American Petroleum Institute and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce are among the petitioners, alleging that the rule is an impermissible extension of executive authority.

The organizations argue that the rule, which was established in July 2019, is in violation of the state’s Administrative Procedures Act and the Minnesota Constitution. The lawsuit claims that the rule was implemented without proper public input and outside the bounds of the governor’s powers.

The Clean Car Rule is part of an effort to reduce emissions in Minnesota. It requires all new cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs sold in the state to meet certain standards for emissions of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. The rule is expected to reduce emissions from these vehicles by up to 30 percent.

The organizations challenging the Clean Car Rule have responded to the governor’s executive order with a legal challenge. In a statement, the coalition of interest groups said, “The Clean Car Rule is not only unlawful, it is a costly and ineffective solution to a problem that can be addressed in other ways.”

The lawsuit has been filed in the Minnesota Court of Appeals and is currently pending. If successful, the lawsuit could overturn the Clean Car Rule, potentially making it difficult for the state to achieve its goals of reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality.

In a dispute of executive powers, a coalition of interest organizations is bringing a lawsuit against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) over the state’s Clean Car Rule, alleging that the rule exceeds the governor’s legal authority. The American Petroleum Institute and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce are among the petitioners, claiming that the statute, which requires all new cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs sold in the state to meet certain emissions standards, violates the Minnesota Constitution and the state’s Administrative Procedures Act. The organizations contend that the rule was imposed without proper public input and is an expensive and ineffective way to address air quality issues. The case is currently pending in the Minnesota Court of Appeals and, if successful, could invalidate the Clean Car Rule and impede the state’s efforts to reduce vehicle emissions.