State committed to stricter standards set forth by the Obama administration
California will move forward with vehicle pollution targets set forth by the Obama administration, despite a move by current President Donald Trump to put those targets on hold.
On Friday, the California Air Resources Board voted to uphold Obama’s stricter emissions rules for the state. It also established a target for 15 percent of new vehicles to be powered by battery, fuel cell, or plug-in hybrid powertrains by 2025, up from about 3 percent today. The rules are part of CARB’s larger plan to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to 1990 levels by 2030.
Earlier this month, Trump called for a review of pollution limits through the year 2025. California has the legal authority to set stricter targets than the federal government, a decision that nine other states are expected to follow. New York and New Jersey are among the other states that have pledged to join along with California’s stricter emissions goals.
Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board, chided automakers for siding with Trump. “What were you thinking when you threw yourselves on the mercy of the Trump administration to solve your problems?” she said during a hearing on Friday. “What did you mean when you said you don’t want to question the overall thrust of the standards? Why do another review if the current program is basically OK?”
Ahead of the CARB meeting, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers noted that EVs’ share of demand for new cars has remained flat for years. The group, which represents 12 major automakers, has criticized Obama’s fuel economy targets over concerns they could drive up costs and threaten jobs. It says it isn’t fighting against states setting their own emissions standards, though.
Differing pollution targets on the state and federal level could drive up costs for consumers and make it more difficult to move cars between state lines, as Automotive News points out. According to a previous report, a White House official wouldn’t rule out the possibility of rescinding California’s right to impose its own fuel economy rules. In fact, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt plans on reviewing the matter.
Comparing the situation to a breakup, CARB member Hector De La Torre said, “If a divorce is going to happen at some point, we are going to litigate that divorce strongly.”
“We tried very hard not to provoke or defy the national government and we’ve had a good past with the EPA,” Nichols said. “I don’t expect there to be a war on California.”
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)
