The #Republican-led #Congress passed the resolutions in May to reverse #Biden’s approval of #California’s #EV efforts. When signed by the president, joint resolutions revoking federal rules carry the force of #law & are not subject to #judicial review.
Even so, the move is expected to draw an immediate #legal challenge from CA, as well as an #ExecutiveOrder from Gov #GavinNewsom directing state ofcls to find another path to move the state’s drivers toward EVs & encourage companies to make them.
#Trump signed the resolutions at a time when he was battling #California on several fronts, most notably…over #immigration enforcement, in which Trump sent #NationalGuard %troops & #Marines to SoCal in an extraordinary [ab]use of #military force.
On Thurs, Trump took aim at CA’s longstanding authority under the federal #CleanAirAct of 1970 to set #pollution standards for the #state that are stricter than federal limits, & at Gov Newsom’s ambition to fight #ClimateChange w/a transition to #EVs.
Repealing #California’s automobile policy is central to #Trump’s agenda of bolstering the production & use of #FossilFuels in the #US, while eliminating policies that promote #RenewableEnergy & reduce planet-warming #GreenhouseGas #emissions.
Trump’s action reversed a #Biden decision that allowed the #state to require that #EVs make up a progressively larger share of new vehicles sold in California until 2035, when the state would ban the sale of new #gasoline-powered #cars entirely.
Anticipating #Trump’s action, #California leaders plan a 2-part response later on Thurs, #state ofcls said. Rob Bonta, the state AG, has said he would file a lawsuit asking a federal judge to overturn the resolutions. And #Newsom intends to direct his admin to develop new rules that encourage the use of #EVs & reward car manufacturers who agree to follow California’s plan to phase out #gasoline-powered vehicles.
…For more than 50 years, the #CleanAirAct has allowed #California to set pollution standards that are stricter than federal rules, as long as the state obtains waivers for them from the #EPA.
The resolutions #Trump signed Thurs also revoke waivers for 2 other CA #CleanAir policies. One blocks CA from requiring that ½ of all new #trucks sold in the #state be #electric by 2035. Another stops the state from putting limits on allowable #emissions of nitrogen oxide from #cars & trucks.
