Under pressure from legal action in 17 states, California has agreed not only to drop the enforcement of its electric truck authorization, but to completely abolish it. [emphasis, links added]
Under the governor’s 2020 executive order, which banned the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles in 2035, two years ago, the state Air Resources Commission designed a “world-leading regulation to phase out the sales of medium and heavy-duty combustion vehicles in California in 2036.”
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said the rule could have gone far beyond California’s borders, leading a coalition of 17 countries to challenge advanced cleaning fleet rules.
“California's attempt to direct trucking standards for the entire country is blatant excessive, which will put industries far beyond its borders,” said another Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador.
The solution will take time to complete. But the judge's order is clear: The state agrees that “no law enforcement action will be taken,,,,,”, and there are some deadlines that must be met.
Apparently, California’s “cold foot” is the same as “blue state allies in the electric truck transition.” This happens when decision makers realize that their wishes are driven by fantasy.
No one was surprised by the fact that truckers were not interested in buying electric drills. They are unreliable, cannot do the job in cold conditions, and have no match for diesel when pulling the load.
Electronic trucks cost more than the main diesel, have a shorter range, and take up to 10 hours to fully charge.
Given the unrealistic and legal challenges of the policy, there is no reason to defend the state of telling California: “We will see you in court.”
Perhaps the settlement will help California learn how to mind its own business.
The electricity bill authorization is not the first time for Golden State Councilors and regulators, at least in one case, voters-interfering in interstate trade.
California’s energy law affects gasoline prices in other states, low-carbon fuel standards regulate interstate trade outside of California, and a recent one-state statement “inevitably forces thousands of businesses to issue expensive, heavy, politically political statements and challenges not only in California, but around the world.”
But none of them are as sweeping or ingrained as the state’s federal government grants that allows it to exceed the standards of the Clean Air Act.
Since the decades passed in 1967, California has received more than 100 exemptions and authorizations that have allowed it to act alone and are now a de facto national emissions policy.
“Seventeen states and Washington, D.C.,” said law firm Holland & Knight, “and there are 10 that are made for heavy vehicles.” ”
In 2008, the federal government denied the exemption requirement only once. However, the future is somewhat blurred.
Late last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a joint resolution that included 246-164 profits, including support from 35 Democrats, which disapproved California's need for exemptions – and was granted in the last days of the Biden administration to allow the state to continue its electric vehicle authorization.
One of the 35 Democrats is Rep. Lou Correa of Orange County, who said he doesn't like to hand over the victory to Donald Trump, but he feels he needs to “listen to my neighbors and respect their choices to do what's best for their families and the environment.”
For him, this includes “protecting consumers’ right to drive any vehicle meaningful to them and their wallets.”
H/T Steve b
Top photo of juice on Unsplash
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