"California Returns as Climate Leader, With Help From the White House"

"The Biden administration is restoring the state’s power to set its own limits on tailpipe pollution and is largely adopting the state’s rules regarding heavy trucks."

"WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is preparing strict new limits on pollution from buses, delivery vans, tractor-trailers and other heavy trucks, the first time tailpipe standards have been tightened for the biggest polluters on the road since 2001.

The new federal regulations are drawn from truck pollution rules recently enacted by California and come as the Biden administration is moving to restore that state’s legal authority to set auto emissions limits that are tighter than federal standards, according to two people familiar with the matter, who were not authorized to speak on the record.

The developments represent a revival of California’s influence on the nation’s climate and clean air policies, following four years in which President Donald J. Trump waged legal, political, and, at times, seemingly personal battles with the state. The Trump administration had stripped away California’s authority to institute its own vehicle pollution standards, power that the state had enjoyed for more than 40 years."

Coral Davenport reports for the New York Times February 15, 2022.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA To Expand Calif. Clean Car Authority — And The Nation’s" (E&E News)

"Biden Administration Is Finalizing A Waiver For California To Set Its Own Vehicle Emissions Standards" (CNN)

Source: NYTimes, 02/16/2022