The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved two important clean air rules in California aimed at reducing pollution from cars and trucks. One rule includes a ban on selling new gasoline-powered cars statewide by 2035. California has the authority to implement stricter vehicle emission standards than the federal government, but it must first obtain a waiver from the EPA.
The two regulations approved by the California Air Resources Board are the Advanced Clean Cars II rule and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus rule. The Advanced Clean Cars II rule, set to go into effect in 2026, requires an increasing percentage of new cars sold in California to be zero-emission or plug-in hybrids, leading to a ban on new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. The Heavy-Duty Omnibus rule, scheduled to take effect this year, establishes cleaner engine standards and requires warranties for new heavy-duty vehicles.
The EPA’s approval allows California to enforce these rules, which are expected to prevent thousands of premature deaths and provide billions of dollars in public health benefits. Environmental groups praised the EPA’s decision, acknowledging that it will help California address the transportation sector’s significant pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
California will now join other countries like the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada in banning new gasoline car sales by 2035 or sooner. Approving these rules before the arrival of the incoming administration makes it harder for opponents to challenge them.
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