California Can Once Again Set its Own Vehicle Emissions Regulations

In a recent action by the EPA, California is again granted authority to set vehicle emissions regulations.

Historically, The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has set much stricter regulations than that of the federal government. Under the previous presidential administration, this authority was taken from California in a lawsuit that stated, “no state should have special power to regular a major national industry which contradicts the notion of a union of sovereign states.” This statement made by 16Republican attorneys general did not pass and the EPA has granted California the waiver to set its standards.

California has Let the Way for Many Years

CARB has led the way in America when it comes to vehicle emissions regulations. Since this became an issue, California has been at the forefront and set the standards higher for itself than what the federal government requires. In fact, 16 other states, including Washington, D.C., have adopted the California level of emissions instead of sticking to the lower levels set by the federal government. This move by the EPA allows CARB to begin to create the rules governing emissions standards in their state once again.

The Sensible Thing to Do

For the past year, the current presidential administration has worked to create a cleaner environment by pushing for more electric vehicle sales and stricter emissions standards. California represents the world’s fifth-largest economy and America’s largest auto market. This leadership position allows them to understand better what works in their state than the federal government. Additionally, the change by the EPA allows other states to adopt the stricter California regulations. This shows trust by the current administration in the standard set by this state and aligns with the goal to bring the country closer to zero emissions.

How Strict are the California Vehicle Emissions Regulations?

The move to reaffirm the waiver originally granted in 2013 allows CARB to develop regulations that accelerate the transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEVs) and improve emission standards. These new requirements start with the 2026 model year to sell fewer and fewer gasoline models through 2035. At that time, the goal is to have 100 percent of vehicles sold be ZEVs. Additionally, this state aims to reach 61 percent ZEV sales by 2030, which is 11 percent greater than the goal set by the current President, of 50 percent by this time.

Another Reason for More Electric Vehicles

Now that California has its regulatory authority reinstated, many states will likely adopt the stricter regulations set by CARB. Many drivers are showing interest in electric vehicles beyond the simplicity of having models that don’t emit pollutants. The recent spike in fuel prices coupled with better driving ranges for EVs piques the interest of many shoppers. Will the gas price hike cause more people to turn to electric vehicles, whether they want them or not? That’s a question we haven’t yet answered. Either way, reinstating the authority for California makes sense in the push toward cleaner air and stricter emissions regulations.