California creates legislative roadmap to zero-emission vehicles by 2035

As highlighted by the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government is moving to address climate change and reduce emissions in many different ways, such as by increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road. Following this trend, state, city and governments are likewise moving quickly at the local level to encourage adoption of clean energy cars and trucks by building more charging stations and offering monetary incentives to constituents when possible. 

In California, a state that’s been devastated by wildfires and other natural disasters in the last decade especially, for example, lawmakers are taking a stronger posture: The California Air Resource Board recently approved a rule last week that requires all new cars and light trucks sold in the state to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It’s a roadmap to meet the goals set out in Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-79-20.

“The impacts of climate change and air pollution affect all Californians, but residents in frontline communities are especially vulnerable and often face the most severe impacts,” reads an information brief put out by the air and resource board. “In developing the regulatory proposals and analysis, staff have met with more than 20 national, state, and local advocacy organizations to learn more about the recommendations these groups have regarding staff’s proposals and how transportation electrification could be made more equitable.”

An article explaining the impact of the law from the American Public Power Association notes “The rule accelerates requirements that automakers deliver an increasing number of zero-emission light-duty vehicles each year beginning in model year 2026.”

The law calls for 51 percent adoption by 2028; 76 percent adoption by 2031; and a complete overhaul by 2035. This applies only to automakers, covering new vehicle sales, and doesn’t impact vehicles already on the road. The American Public Power Association’s explainer further clarifies that plug-in hybrid vehicles can count toward an automaker’s quota, but must have an all-electric range of at least 50 miles. Additionally, no more than 20 percent of the overall requirement can be plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The action is notable for city and county administrators because, amid the national effort to reduce emissions, state laws play a key role, according to the United States Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors working to turn back climate change. The alliance released a resource Monday, “The Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases: A Guide for State Officials,” to help leaders better understand the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions. It was put together by the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law and is freely available to public officials.

An introduction to the guide notes that states are “at the forefront of efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. State officials who aim to consider climate change alongside their other policy and decision making priorities need tools to help them weigh what potential approaches to a given sector or policy issue would mean for the climate.”