California can set rules on electric vehicles, emissions -U.S. EPA

Pacific Health Care Organization

09/03/2022 19:00

By David Shepardson
    WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday restored the state of
California's ability to set its own zero emission vehicle sales
mandate and tailpipe emissions limits, reversing a 2019 decision
by then President Donald Trump.
    The agency said it was finalizing a decision to reinstate a
waiver under the Clear Air Act to California that was first
awarded in 2013.
    "With today’s action, we reinstate an approach that for
years has helped advance clean technologies and cut air
pollution for people not just in California, but for the U.S. as
a whole," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.
    EPA is also rejecting a Trump-era decision to prohibit other
states from adopting the California tailpipe emission standards.
    California Governor Gavin Newsom said the move remedies the
Trump administration's "groundless ​attack on a critical program
that is based on California's decades ​of experience setting
emissions standards as authorized by law."
    The California Air Resources Board said on Tuesday it plans
to significantly increase electric vehicle requirements by 2030
as the state moves to phase out the sale of gasoline-powered
light duty vehicles by 2035.
    President Joe Biden has set a goal of 50% of new vehicle
sales being electric or plug-in electric, but has not endorsed a
date to phase out gasoline-vehicle sales.
     In a draft document in December, the California regulator
said it aimed to reach 61% of new sales as zero emission models
by 2030. A revised proposal, which is still under staff review,
would aim for 68% new zero emission vehicles in 2030, 76% in
2031, and 100% in 2035, a board spokesman told Reuters.

 (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))