California’s plan to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035 may spark a significant legal showdown as federal powers could clash with state rights, reshaping U.S. environmental policy.
At a Glance
- The Biden administration approved California’s ban on new gas-powered cars by 2035.
- The EPA granted California two waivers under the Clean Air Act.
- Governor Newsom’s executive order supports clean air and pollution reduction.
- Federal reversal of this initiative could prompt legal challenges.
- California’s large economy influences vehicle regulations nationwide.
California’s Bold Environmental Initiative
The Biden administration granted California, along with 11 other states, permission to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. This decision, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday, allows California to set an ambitious timeline for eliminating gas-powered vehicles. The California Air Resources Board’s regulations mandate that 35% of new cars and trucks sold by 2026 be zero-emission. This figure will rise to 100% by 2035.
California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized his state’s commitment to clean air and pollution reduction, a sentiment echoed by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. Governor Newsom issued an executive order in 2020 directing the state to end the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a move aimed at addressing California’s pressing air quality challenges and climate crisis which includes extreme weather and wildfires.
The Environmental Protection Agency has granted two requests from California to enforce strict standards for vehicle emissions, including a rule aimed at banning sales of new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2035. https://t.co/vmjV2uK6iZ
— The Press Democrat (@NorthBayNews) December 18, 2024
Federal Challenges and Legal Implications
The impending Trump administration poses a significant challenge to this initiative. President-elect Donald J. Trump has pledged to dismantle Biden-era climate policies, including the revocation of California’s car ban program. Trump criticized California’s regulations, calling them “ridiculous” and vowed, “I will terminate that.” The EPA’s approval of California’s plan is seen as a major step for environmentalists in securing clean car rules, which could complicate any future attempts to reverse them.
The Biden administration is greenlighting California’s plan to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, setting a dangerous precedent that forces Americans into expensive electric vehicles while crushing consumer choice. California’s overreach doesn’t stop at its borders—11…
— Rep. Doug LaMalfa (@RepLaMalfa) December 16, 2024
California and its supporters, including climate activists, are prepared to legally challenge any federal attempts to revoke the EPA waivers. This could lead to a significant legal battle over states’ rights to implement more stringent environmental laws than those set by the federal government.
The National Impact
California’s substantial economy and population give it considerable influence over national vehicle regulations. Under the Clean Air Act, the state can request waivers to establish more stringent emissions standards to protect residents from air pollution. Seventeen states have adopted California’s low-emission and zero-emission vehicle regulations to varying degrees.
Federal intervention or a shift in policies could redefine how future environmental regulations are set and challenged nationwide. As California pushes back, a showdown over states’ rights and federal powers is brewing that could significantly shape the landscape of U.S. environmental politics.
