Hilgers announces lawsuits against electric truck mandates

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said Monday he’s filing lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board over mandates to replace diesel trucks with electric vehicles.

Hilgers announced the lawsuits in a news conference where he was supported by Gov. Jim Pillen and representatives of Nebraska trucking companies. Both EPA and California officials said the changes, which would be phased in over time, are needed to combat climate change. But Nebraska officials say current technology and infrastructure does not support such a change, which would be be costly for both businesses and consumers. Hilgers added the mandates are unconstitutional.

"The good news is the Constitution doesn't give California Air Resources Board the authority to dictate national terms to Nebraska," Hilgers said. "Nor has Congress given the EPA the authority to dictate a nationwide mandate to Nebraskans or anyone else in the country, for that matter, mandating these types of technology in these types of trucking fleets."

Hilgers was joined in the lawsuit against the EPA by attorneys general from 23 other states, and against California by 15 others. All are Republicans, while California’s and the federal government’s attorneys general are Democrats.