Endangerment Finding
What to know: The Trump administration has reversed the 2009 EPA “endangerment finding,” which rules that greenhouse gases should be regulated like pollutants.
The TPPF take: Trump’s decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding is a necessary correction of legal violations and regulatory overreach that will enable Americans to purchase the cars they want at more affordable prices.
“The EPA’s original finding failed to demonstrate that the moderate warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions is endangering public health, ignoring evidence like the fact that climate-related deaths have plummeted by 98% over the past century,” says TPPF’s Brent Bennett. “We applaud the EPA for rejecting flawed climate models and speculation and returning to sound science.”
For more on the endangerment finding, click here.
Oh No!
What to know: The lefty magazine Mother Jones laments that “Trump’s Climate Repeal Will Kill America’s Transition From Gas Guzzlers to EVs.”
The TPPF take: Regulations combined with generous subsidies have hidden the true costs—and demand—for electric vehicles.
“All of these changes don’t spell doom for electric vehicles but rather an opportunity for genuine innovation,” says TPPF’s Cullen Neely. “Without artificial support masking market realities, EV manufacturers will need to solve real problems: reducing battery costs, improving charging infrastructure, and addressing environmental concerns about lithium mining (including the massive amounts of water required for it) and battery recycling.”
For more on EVs, click here.
A Brighter Future
What to know: More than 100,000 applications for the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts have been filled out by Texas families.
The TPPF take: Texas families are eager for school choice.
“The sheer volume of applications in such a short period shows many Texas parents feel constrained by the options offered in the current public school system and are eager for alternatives,” says TPPF’s Brian Phillips. “That urgency reflects frustrations on multiple fronts, from class sizes and academic rigor to disciplinary culture and school safety. Given this demand, it’s highly likely that the Texas Legislature will need to revisit TEFA funding and enrollment limits when lawmakers convene next year.”
For more on TEFA’s, click here.