XPost: alt.politics.usa.congress, alt.california, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
XPost: talk.politics.guns, sac.politics
Well California? Here's a small taste of what's to come.
The majority of the USA just stood up and told you to get fucked.
It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the constant barrage of
attacks on Republicans and Trump could it?
How about all those sanctuary city declarations and refusals to work with
law enforcement to protect citizens of the USA?
California used to be able to set its own emissions standards above and
beyond those set by the Federal government. It was a provision of the
Clean Air Act, signed into law by republican president Richard Nixon.
But not anymore. The house and senate passed sweeping legislation
yesterday axing, among many other things, the Golden State’s ability to create tougher standards for cars, trucks, SUVs, and even weed whackers.
The president is expected to sign it into law.
It’s not just a West Coast Story. California’s tougher emission
standards were followed by nearly a dozen other states and the District
of Columbia, so it has nationwide effects. Along with language in the
bills that appears to wipe out standards set by the EPA and even NHTSA,
the legislation will have a direct affect on clean air across the
country.
The legislation represents a joint resolution that nullifies the
Environmental Protection Agency notice titled, “California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II;
Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision (90 Fed. Reg. 642),” published
on January 6, 2025. That was what allowed California to set its own
standards. The expected law nullifies the California Air Resources Board
waiver to establish Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations.
Under CARB’s ACC II mandate, 35% of new 2026 model cars sold in the
state would have to be zero-emission vehicles, ramping up to 68% in 2030
and 100% in 2035, ambitious goals.
Some entities were happy with the development.
“SEMA today is rejoicing in the successful, bipartisan effort to end EV mandates,” the aftermarket parts organization said. “California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation jeopardized a significant
sector of the American economy. A third of the specialty automotive
aftermarket is based on ICE technology. Today’s Senate vote to end California’s national EV mandate and ICE vehicle ban protects $100
billion of annual economic impact to the nation’s economy and the more
than 330,000 American jobs these policies threatened.”
How this will affect Tesla is still unknown.
Others were less enthusiastic.
“California profoundly disagrees with today’s unconstitutional, illegal
and foolish vote attempting to undermine critical clean air
protections,” said California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph. “It’s an assault on states’ rights the federal administration claims to support that puts national air quality standards out of reach and will
have devastating effects for the 150 million Americans who breathe
unhealthy air every day.”
“Senate Republicans just launched an unlawful assault on clean air at
the behest of fossil fuel lobbyists and short-sighted car and truck manufacturers who’d rather gut our future than let America lead in clean technology,” said Katherine Garcia, Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation
for All campaign director. “These destructive corporate polluters are
intent on overwhelming Americans with health-threatening vehicle
pollution for decades to come.”
California governor Gavin Newsome’s office released a statement of its
own: “Senate Republicans are trying to illegally wipe out California’s clean air rules—the same rules that have reduced pollution and kept generations of Californians healthy. They’re selling out America’s
economic dominance to China and Making America Smoggy Again.”
It’s all part of what is known by some as the One Big Beautiful Bill
Act, the republicans’ sweeping mandate affecting almost every facet of
life and legislation in America.
The BBBA will have wide-ranging effects, including imposing a $250
annual tax on EVs.
"Repealing clean energy tax credits will gut America’s clean energy production–including EV production and battery recycling–raising costs
for families and killing hundreds of thousands of good-paying
manufacturing jobs, all to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires,"
said Lindsey Perkins, Director of Communications and Marketing for EV
advocacy group Plug In America. "Without these tax credits for consumers
and businesses, electricity prices will increase by more than $110 per
year for American households starting next year (according to the Clean
Energy Buyers Association).
"Additionally, this bill will impose a punitive tax of $250 on EV
drivers every year. At the current federal gas tax rate of 18.4 cents
per gallon, the average gas-powered light-duty vehicle pays only $82.25
in gas taxes each year. EV drivers want to pay their fair share, but
this $250 annual tax is unfair."
The Energy & Commerce committee section of the BBBA cuts Corporate
Average Fuel Economy standards for 2024-26, plus CAFE standards for
passenger cars and light trucks for Model Year 2027 “and beyond,” as
well as fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans
for MY30 and beyond.
The Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration in
March 2024 issued standards that would mandate EVs reach 30% to 56% of passenger vehicle and light-duty truck production and 20-32% of
medium-duty truck production, by 2030-32. The House budget bill mandates
those standards “shall have no force or effect.”
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a64857257/congress-rescinds-california-emis sions-standards/
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