Williams Pushes Back Against California Emissions Standards Coming to Ohio
COLUMBUS – State Representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) is continuing his fight to prevent California emission standards from entering Ohio as the Stellantis Jeep manufacturing facility in Toledo announced it plans to layoff more than 1,000 workers in February.
Stellantis cited in a release the reason for the layoff is due to a decrease in demand for the Jeep brand because of “California’s emissions regulations putting the company at a competitive disadvantage.” The company also fears the Biden Adminstration’s demand for a boost in electric vehicle production and reduced carbon emissions could result in billions of dollars in fines leading to additional layoffs.
In June, sensing that a push to transition to all electric vehicles would jeopardize jobs in blue-collar Lucas County, Williams introduced House Resolution 198 that supports a consumer’s right to choose whether to purchase a gas power or electric vehicle. In addition, Williams recently supported the passing of legislation that will prohibit Ohio from adopting California Air Resources Board rules, which are stricter than the Federal governments emissions standards. Currently, 14 other states have adopted CARB’s standards.
“Auto manufacturing is a pillar of employment here in Ohio and especially in Toledo,” said Williams. “Our recent vote to stop these burdensome emissions regulations from coming to Ohio and Representative Grim’s open aggression towards that bill is a clear indicator that democrats, like Rep. Grim, are pushing a pro-Biden leftist agenda that will destroy the state of auto manufacturing in Ohio and kill thousands of high-income blue-collar jobs in the process.”
The House legislation to prevent the CARB emission regulations will prevent the state and any local entity from banning a vehicle based only on its power source. House Bill 201 was recently passed along party lines in the House and now awaits a hearing in the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee.