California’s Gavin Newsom, along with the California Legislature, are very concerned about climate change and have proposed to ban new gas-powered vehicles in the Golden State until 2035. The Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), citing the Clean Air Act, granted California authority to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars on Wednesday.
The Environmental Protection Agency granted California’s two requests on Wednesday to enforce strict vehicle emission standards, including a regulation aimed at prohibiting the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in California by 2035. It is expected that the incoming Trump administration will try to reverse this action.
California’s rule is more stringent than the federal rule that was adopted this year, which tightens emission standards without requiring sales of electric cars.
EPA’s review concluded that opponents of both waivers had not met their legal burden by demonstrating how the EV rule, or a separate measure affecting heavy-duty vehicles, was in conflict with the federal Clean Air Act.
This waiver is both important and not. Why? It’s because other states are following California’s example on this sort of thing. It may not be important because it could be a slam dunk for the Trump administration.
California is not the only state that benefits from this new waiver. More than a dozen states follow California’s national-leading standards for vehicle emissions.
The waiver will likely be temporary. Donald Trump, the president-elect, has announced that he will revoke California’s waivers. This is part of his industry-friendly policy which includes increasing fossil fuel production and repealing important parts of a landmark climate law of 2022.
Should Trump reject this latest California windbaggery piece?
One can make a case for California to have it. Why?
California dealerships will sell 1,775,915 cars in 2023. California plans to replace this many new cars with electric vehicles in 10 years. The same electric cars are being subsidized, because they’re not economically viable. The manufacturers are unlikely to be able to ramp up production in order for this goal. And even if they were, how much would we spend on subsidies and tax breaks?
California has 10 years to install a grid of charging stations that is usable. Not just in San Francisco or Los Angeles, but everywhere. This is an area, I’d like to point out, where the roads are not passable.
What’s stopping someone from driving down to Nevada to purchase a new vehicle? California cannot prohibit its residents from leaving or engaging in voluntary economic transactions if they choose to do so – or, will California simply prohibit sales and registration of traditional new autos? What about the 14 million vehicles already in California? Watch as the market for grandfathered benzene-burning cars takes off in California. Prices for older vehicles will also rise. Supply and demand are cruel mistresses.
California is a place where bad ideas are spawned too frequently these days, but this idea is self-defeating. This is a bad idea that will fall apart under its own weight. It is best to let this idea fail.
