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The Climate Litigation Database
Litigation

Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association v. Minnesota

Date
2021
Geography
Minnesota
Part of
Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association v. Minnesota

About this case

Filing year
2021
Status
Motion to dismiss granted.
Geography
Docket number
0:21-cv-00053
Court/admin entity
United States → United States Federal Courts → United States District of Minnesota (D. Minn.)
Case category
Federal Statutory Claims → Clean Air Act → Industry Lawsuits → State and Municipal Vehicle Standards
Principal law
United States → Clean Air Act (CAA)United States → Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)
At issue
Lawsuit to enjoin the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from establishing greenhouse gas emissions standards for new vehicles and imposing quotas for zero-emission vehicle sales.

Documents

Filing Date
Type
Action Taken
Document
Summary
02/17/2021
Decision
Motion to dismiss granted.
View
The federal district court for the District of Minnesota granted the State of Minnesota’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to block the state from conducting rulemaking to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. The court concluded that sovereign immunity barred the plaintiff’s claims; that the plaintiff—a “corporation that advocates for the interests of retail motor vehicle dealerships in Minnesota”—had not alleged facts sufficient to establish standing; and that the claims were not ripe for judicial review.
01/06/2021
Complaint
Complaint filed.
View
Minnesota Auto Dealers Association (MADA) filed a lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota to enjoin the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) from establishing greenhouse gas emissions standards for new vehicles and imposing quotas for zero-emission vehicle sales. Citing EPA’s withdrawal of California’s waiver for greenhouse gas vehicle emission standards and zero emission vehicle mandates and NHTSA’s 2019 preemption rule, MADA asserted that federal law expressly preempts MPCA’s December 2020 proposal to adopt California vehicle standards beginning with model year 2025.

Summary

Lawsuit to enjoin the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from establishing greenhouse gas emissions standards for new vehicles and imposing quotas for zero-emission vehicle sales.