EVHybridNoire applauds EPA reinstatement of Calif. clean air rules, ZEV waiver
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2022
Contact: Shane Reese, [email protected]
EVHybridNoire applauds EPA for reissuing Clean Air Act waiver to Calif., allows state to set own tailpipe standards and ZEV mandates
LOS ANGELES—California will reclaim its role as the nation’s major influencer for curbing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from cars and trucks and driving sales of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), thanks to a widely anticipated action from the Biden administration.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reissued a waiver under the Clean Air Act to allow California to set its own auto tailpipe standards and ZEV mandates that are more stringent than those set by the federal government, reversing the previous administration’s rule that sought to block states from doing so.
“We applaud the EPA for taking decisive action in allowing California to enact its own tailpipe and ZEV standards,“ said EVHybridNoire co-founder Terry Travis. “The EPA’s action today means California can continue to pave the way toward a clean energy economy, and let’s be clear: Clean energy efforts are critical for all communities, but especially for communities of color and under-resourced Californians that have faced decades of disproportionately negative health impacts from air-polluting tailpipe emissions.”
According to the American Lung Association, nine of the 10 most polluted counties for ozone and particle pollution are in California.
“California is the nation’s largest auto market and the world’s fifth-largest economy, so it only makes sense to enable the state to continue its automotive and economic leadership on the national and global stage,” Travis said.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have adopted California’s stricter vehicle emissions standards, representing more than 30 percent of all light-vehicle sales in the U.S.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing regulations that would accelerate the transition to ZEVs and strengthen emissions standards for new light-duty cars and trucks sold in the state. The requirements would start with the 2026 model year and move to 100-percent sales of ZEVs starting in 2035, according to CARB.
A draft of California’s clean cars rule from December shows the state aims to reach 61 percent ZEV sales by 2030, which is higher than the administration’s goal of 50 percent by the same year.
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EVHybridNoire is the nation’s largest network of diverse EV drivers and enthusiasts, the voice of multicultural EV drivers, and the first national diverse organization focused on e-mobility, environmental sustainability, clean energy, and transportation equity — providing access for all to next-generation vehicles and transportation options. For more information, visit https://evhybridnoire.com.