WPBN: On Wednesday, the EPA approved two California petitions to impose stringent vehicle emissions regulations, including a rule that will prohibit the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state by 2035. It seems probable that the incoming Trump administration will attempt to undo the decision.
A federal rule that was established this year that tightens emissions limits but does not mandate sales of electric vehicles is less stringent than the California rule.
According to the EPA’s study, opponents of the two waivers failed to demonstrate that the EV regulation or a different heavy-duty vehicle provision violated the federal Clean Air Act.
“California has longstanding authority to request waivers from EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan stated. “Today’s actions follow through on EPA’s commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change.”
The advanced clean-cars rule is a major achievement, according to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who frequently highlights California’s leadership in climate policy.
According to Newsom’s statement earlier this year, “California is hitting our goals years ahead of schedule,” and major automakers support the state regulations. “We won’t stop fighting to protect our communities from pollution and the climate crisis.”
Some large automakers questioned the most recent EPA waiver, despite the fact that Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, and other major automakers are meeting the current California pollution regulations.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a sizable industry group, claims that the majority of the Democratic-leaning states that have embraced California’s regulations—which are primarily located in the Northeast and along the West Coast—are not selling nearly as many EVs as the 35% level that will be needed the following year and are not likely to reach the 2035 goal of 100% EV sales.
“Achieving the sales mandates under current market realities will take a miracle. There needs to be balance and some states should exit the (California) program,” John Bozzella, the group’s CEO stated.
“There’s a huge gap between these EV sales mandates and a customer’s reasonable expectation they can still choose what kind of vehicle they want to drive,” Bozzella added, referring to the fact that automakers are creating electric vehicles. Next year, he anticipates that Trump will rescind the California waiver.
According to Scott Vazin, a North American representative for Toyota, the auto sector would be distorted if the California waiver is approved since businesses will be sending zero-emission cars to states that have embraced California’s regulations.
“There might not be a non-electric vehicle on the lot to buy for their mobility needs if a client in a state that follows California can’t afford an EV “or it doesn’t satisfy their needs,” Vazin stated.
The Biden administration’s action was praised by environmental groups.
“EPA’s approval is a critical step forward in protecting our lungs from pollution and our wallets from the expenses of combustion fuels,” Paul Cort, director of Earthjustice’s Right To Zero campaign stated. “The gradual shift in car sales to zero-emissions models will cut smog and household costs while growing California’s clean energy workforce.”
The Natural Resources Defense Council’s director of clean vehicles, Kathy Harris, said the ruling demonstrates consideration for California and other states.
“California decided that transitioning to cleaner, zero-emission vehicles is the best way to address the unique (air pollution) burdens it faces,” she stated. “This is exactly how our system of federalism should work. If other states don’t like California’s approach, they don’t need to follow it. But no one should object to the longstanding authority of states to act to protect their residents.”
The EPA’s move coincides with the Supreme Court’s announcement last week that it will consider an appeal supported by businesses contesting a previous California waiver granted by the Biden administration. Fuel companies have appealed a 2022 EPA waiver, and the court consented to hear their case.
California is able to impose stricter emissions limits than the federal requirement because to the waiver.
The high court will consider whether fuel producers have the legal right to contest the government waiver rather than the waiver itself. Because the corporations did not provide any proof that they would be impacted by the waiver, which directly impacts automakers, a federal appeals court decided that they did not have the right to sue.
