 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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Legal challenges complicate California's auto future |
While the Biden administration recently approved California's effort to ban new sales of gas-powered cars by 2035, the Golden State's automotive future remains uncertain. |
© Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press file |
The incoming Trump administration is likely to try to undo the December approval for California — and a wave of litigation will also probably challenge the Biden administration's decision.
But President-elect Trump's anticipated actions could also face court challenges. And California could have more tricks up its sleeve to push its market toward electric vehicles regardless of what Trump does.
"There's just an enormous amount of uncertainty about whether the rule goes into effect — lots of moving parts. It will take a while before we know the answer to that question," said Ann Carlson, a former Biden administration official who is now an environmental law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
As the legal process plays out, it's not clear for automakers what their national or state-level electric vehicle sales requirements will be.
"Navigating these challenges is especially acute for heavily regulated automakers and suppliers because of our multi-year design and manufacturing cycles and the significant capital expenditures necessary to bring any new vehicle to market," John Bozzella, president of the lobbying group Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in a recent memo to Trump. He also called the current California and federal rules "out-of-step" with market realities.
California could try to implement a side deal with carmakers amid the potential policy and legal battles.
After the last Trump administration revoked an Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorization for California to set car standards, the state and several automakers inked a deal to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleets.
"If companies are looking for certainty, their best effort will be to have an agreement with California," said Margo Oge, who directed the EPA's Transportation and Air Quality office for nearly two decades.
Read more at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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After a massive New Year's Eve blackout, nearly all of Puerto Rico's power has been restored — though the island is also projected to face power shortages later in the day Thursday. |
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The treacherous combination of rising temperatures and dried-up fuels has made Canadian forest much more prone to severe wildfires in recent decades, a new study has found. |
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Morgan Stanley on Thursday announced its departure from a coalition of banks that aims to target net-zero emissions through lending and investment, the fifth group to do so in recent weeks. |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Lobbyists will have their hands full with several massive legislative battles coming early in a second Trump administration. |
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
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Biden to Ban More Offshore Oil Drilling Before Trump Arrives (Bloomberg) Inside the Mind of Energy Nominee Chris Wright (Heatmap)
Drilling could resume where a 1969 oil spill inspired Earth Day (The Washington Post)
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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A federal appeals court ruled this week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lacked the authority to restore certain net neutrality rules last year, handing a blow to FCC Democrats and Biden administration officials who pushed for revived open internet measures. Read more |
| Progressives in Washington are facing an existential crisis like never before as they brace for the incoming Trump administration. Read more |
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Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: |
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