On December 18, the Environmental Protection Agency greenlit a major piece of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s progressive fever dream.
The Biden administration today approved California’s groundbreaking mandate phasing out new gas-powered cars just weeks before the incoming Trump administration poses a threat of overturning electric vehicle and climate rules.
The granting of the waiver by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows California to move forward in requiring 35% of new 2026 model cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions, 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035. Nearly all zero-emission cars are powered by electricity.
The EPA also today gave the go-ahead to a 2020 California regulation requiring reductions in nitrogen oxides — a key ingredient of smog — emitted by heavy-duty trucks and buses.
There was concern about President-elect Donald Trump overturning this waiver when he took office on January 20, which was part of Newsom’s urgency to “Trump proof” the state.
My, what a(n un)natural disaster will do.
Southern California has been ravaged by wildfires, which have destroyed the communities of Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. So, Newsom needs the Trump administration’s goodwill (and recovery dollars) and is now changing his tune.
NEW: California is withdrawing a request for the Biden admin to approve its EV truck mandate. Under the rules, a large share of truck sales in CA and other states would have been forced to be electric by 2035. Less than 1% of truck sales are EVs.
A major setback for activists. pic.twitter.com/UyEe4SY2gb
— Thomas Catenacci (@ThomasCatenacci) January 15, 2025
California officials are withdrawing their final requests to enforce their nation-leading electric vehicle rules, days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
State officials told U.S. EPA on Monday they wouldn’t seek federal permission to enforce their rules covering zero-emission trucks and trains, in anticipation of attacks by the Trump administration. Trump had used California’s strict pollution standards as a political punching bag during his reelection campaign, and vowed to roll them back once he takes office.
“Withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty presented by the incoming administration that previously attacked California’s programs to protect public health and the climate and has said will continue to oppose those programs,” California Air Resource Board Chair Liane Randolph said in a statement Tuesday.
Newsom is fighting to save his political career and keep control of power. This move makes it clear he is not succeeding. His hand-selected CARB agency is simply doing his bidding. Along with the terrible optics of Newsom standing in front of burning buildings and practically dancing with glee, Californians are rejecting the whole climate change schtick the Democrats love to trot out when their save-the-environment policies do exactly the opposite. Many recognize that any environmental gains that might have been produced through these EV mandates have gone up in smoke.
Then there are the lawsuits. In 2023, 24 attorneys general filed suit against the Biden administration, who followed California’s lead and moved to institute these mandates for the entire nation. California truckers, who stay in an ongoing battle with CARB over its extortionate rules and regulations, followed suit.
Trucking companies had already sued the state to stop the measure, saying electric and hydrogen big rigs are not practical for long-haul uses and that it would destroy the state’s economy.
“The California Trucking Association has consistently stated the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule was unachievable,” Eric Sauer, chief executive of the association, said in a statement. He said the industry would work with the state air board and EPA “to further reduce emissions in a technologically feasible and cost-effective manner. that preserves our State and the Nation’s critical supply chain.”
Not to mention, people are now required to rebuild their lives anis under fire
No, they see the handwriting on the wall. The infrastructure of major portions of Los Angeles is tits up. The climate change mantra and for the children are falling on death ears.
California has just withdrawn its request for the Biden Administration to approve a statewide ban on non-electric trucks and trains.
The Newsom-proofing of California is underway.
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) January 15, 2025
Half the country was not on board with this California blueprint because of its threat to commerce, the supply chain, and livelihoods. Once Trump takes office, Newsom would be faced with the choice of continuing in the error of his ways and saddling California citizens with more costly and losing litigation, or let his precious progressive agenda go.
So much for the survival of the planet: Newsom is choosing the survival of himself.