California is backing away from its ambitious plan to ban diesel trucks and mandate cleaner locomotives. What's the reason? The incoming Trump administration is unlikely to approve such one-size-fits-all regulations.
By CalMatters:
State officials have long considered the rules critical to cleaning up California's severe air pollution and combating climate change.
The Biden administration's withdrawal from the program comes after it recently approved a mandate from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to phase out new gasoline-powered vehicles. But exemptions to four other clean vehicle rules adopted by the state have not yet been approved.
Why? Governor Newsom has withdrawn the state's request for EPA approval as the state “realigns” under the Trump administration amid President Trump's plan to repeal zero-emission vehicle rules and California's clean air exemption.
“California has withdrawn pending exemption and authorization requests that have not yet been acted upon by the EPA,” Air Resources Board Chairwoman Leanne Randolph said in a statement.
“While we are disappointed with EPA's failure to act on all requests in a timely manner, withdrawing is an important step given the uncertainty created by the incoming administration, which has previously attacked California's efforts to protect public health and the climate. plans and said it would continue to oppose them.
California's Advanced Clean Fleet Rule to Phase Out Diesel Trucks Is One The most comprehensive and most watched rules formulated by the country in recent years Reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
it will have Stop selling new fossil fuel trucks by 2036 and Big trucking companies asked to transform Their medium and heavy fleet By 2042, there will be a shift to electric or hydrogen-powered models.
truck fleet rulesApproved in 2022 after years of analysis, public hearings and discussions with industry and experts, It was one of the most controversial and radical rules ever passed by the board.
Critics say California regulators are violating the law by forcing the elimination of diesel trucks in favor of electric trucks, and accuse the Golden State of colluding with the largest heavy-duty trucking companies to ban the use of conventional internal combustion engines by 2036.
Trucking companies have sued the state to stop the rule, saying it Mandating zero-emission trucks is unfeasible and would destroy the state’s economy.
Despite serving as a CARB board member for 16 years and helping write truck fleet rules, Daniel Sperling said there were problems from the start.
“What you're doing is telling all these truck fleets, thousands of truck fleets, they have to buy these vehicles,” Sperling said.
Read the full article at CalMatters
