Newsom Capitulates, Withdraws Bid to Regulate Electric Vehicles Sales, Phaseout Gas-Powered Ones

— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) January 15, 2025

Half the country was not on board with this California blueprint because of its threat to commerce, the supply chain, and livelihoods. Once Trump takes office, Newsom would be faced with the choice of continuing in the error of his ways and saddling California citizens with more costly and losing litigation, or let his precious progressive agenda go.

No, they see the handwriting on the wall. The infrastructure of major portions of Los Angeles is tits up. The climate change mantra and for the children are falling on death ears.  

NEW: California is withdrawing a request for the Biden admin to approve its EV truck mandate. Under the rules, a large share of truck sales in CA and other states would have been forced to be electric by 2035. Less than 1% of truck sales are EVs.A major setback for activists. pic.twitter.com/UyEe4SY2gb

On December 18, the Environmental Protection Agency greenlit a major piece of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s progressive fever dream. 

Southern California has been ravaged by wildfires, which have destroyed the communities of Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. So, Newsom needs the Trump administration’s goodwill (and recovery dollars) and is now changing his tune.

State officials told U.S. EPA on Monday they wouldn’t seek federal permission to enforce their rules covering zero-emission trucks and trains, in anticipation of attacks by the Trump administration. Trump had used California’s strict pollution standards as a political punching bag during his reelection campaign, and vowed to roll them back once he takes office.

California has just withdrawn its request for the Biden Administration to approve a statewide ban on non-electric trucks and trains.The Newsom-proofing of California is underway.

“The California Trucking Association has consistently stated the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule was unachievable,” Eric Sauer, chief executive of the association, said in a statement. He said the industry would work with the state air board and EPA “to further reduce emissions in a technologically feasible and cost-effective manner. that preserves our State and the Nation’s critical supply chain.”

There was concern about President-elect Donald Trump overturning this waiver when he took office on January 20, which was part of Newsom’s urgency to “Trump proof” the state. 

The Biden administration today approved California’s groundbreaking mandate phasing out new gas-powered cars just weeks before the incoming Trump administration poses a threat of overturning electric vehicle and climate rules.

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