US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate

The Senate dealt a severe blow to California’s plan to transition to all-electric vehicles by barring the state from enforcing its EV sales mandates. 

According to a report by Alejandro Lazo and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde for CalMatters, “The decision to revoke a waiver that the Biden administration granted to California could upend the state’s decades-long efforts and authority to clean up its air pollution — the worst in the nation — and reduce greenhouse gases that cause climate change.”

In lieu of the mandate, California can raise incentives for consumers and companies to switch to electric cars and fleets. Electrifying the state’s transportation sector, including its massive trucking industry, is key to improving air quality.

According to the article, “The U.S. Senate’s Parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office said Congress cannot review Clean Air Act waivers. The Senate voted to evade their Parliamentarian’s ruling in a 51-46 party line, procedural decision on Wednesday night.”