Trump Will Strip California of Its Ability to Regulate CO2 From Cars
12th March 2019
The EPA will introduce its final proposal sometime this spring that strips a waiver California and other states have long used to set tougher vehicle emission standards than the federal government, forcing every state in the U.S. to comply with the same rules.
Since manufacturers aren’t willing to make two products, one for a restrictive state and one for less restrictive states, California’s tight regulations have basically set the standard for mileage requirements for the country. This is the same trick that AlGore used to give us those wimpy 1.6 gallon flush toilets.
The move to revoke California of its waiver comes as the Trump administration is also looking to freeze Obama-era efficiency rules meant to cut carbon emissions from the transportation industry. The EPA, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is finalizing a proposal to freeze vehicle efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, in lieu of raising them annually.
This could get entertaining. Proglodytes are finding out that centralizing power in Washington isn’t such a good idea after all.