California Attempts To Block Emission Rollback

California Attempts To Block Emission Rollback

This past Friday California regulators voted to maintain the current emission standards, regardless of the current presidential administration's attempt to increase tolerance levels for pollution.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB,) the state's air quality regulator, affirmed a provision in its greenhouse gas vehicle regulation that establishes that only cars meeting current federal standards for model years 2017 through 2025 comply with the state's standards and can be sold there.

In contrast, the Trump administration proposed last month to freeze federal fuel efficiency requirements at 2020 levels through 2026. The administration said stricter emissions standards will make vehicles more expensive and less safe. Many experts disagree, including several members of CARB. 

This disagreement represents the latest in a line of battles between the Trump administration and regulatory bodies in California. This issue is of particular importance to the state, as California represents the largest auto consumer in the US. 

California has the authority under an EPA waiver to set its own vehicle emissions rules to combat particularly heavy smog conditions in Los Angeles and other heavily populated areas.

The Trump administration has proposed revoking that authority, which would not only affect this particular issue but also further weaken individual state's authority in comparison to Federal mandates.

In the meantime, auto manufacturers are placed in the middle, not knowing which set of regulations to produce toward.

We and our partners at Fix Auto Stockton in Stockton, CA will be watching developments closely as more than a dozen states have opted to side with California's emission regulations in the past instead of the weaker federal ones.

Written By: Todd Hendrickson
Source: autonews.com