The US Senate has overturned California’s decision to ban sales of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. In the Senate vote, 51 senators voted to overturn the decision, while 44 voted to keep the rule in place. The bill will now be submitted to President Donald Trump for approval.
California’s gasoline-powered vehicle ban has been overturned
A 2020 executive order signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom required all new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles sold in the state by 2035 to be zero-emission.
The executive order required at least 80 percent of these vehicles to be fully electric, with the rest being plug-in hybrids. Governor Newsom announced that they will file a lawsuit against Congress’ overturning decision.
California is one of the states with the strictest environmental policies in the US. The state has been drafting regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions for years as part of the fight against climate change.
However, these policies have repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration’s environmental regulations. On his first day in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, and then implemented regulations aimed at increasing coal production.
The federal repeal decision has brought into question the state’s independence over environmental laws. If President Trump signs the bill, California’s zero-emission vehicle strategy will be legally invalid.
This development could also affect other states in the US that are preparing similar regulations. What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
