California is at it again. This time, the state Air Resources Board has issued a regulation banning the sale of new gasoline- or diesel-powered cars in just 12 years. Golden State motorists would find their options limited to cars propelled by electricity or hydrogen fuel cells.
California can do this only if President Joe Biden grants Sacramento a waiver from the Clean Air Act, allowing the state to impose even stricter mileage standards and auto emissions requirements than those imposed by the federal Department of Transportation.
It’s a huge mistake. Not only does the new regulation bar reasonable choices in the nation’s largest car market, it also makes us more dependent on China. And a similar requirement could be coming to a state near you. The New York Times reports that, if California’s law takes effect, another dozen states could adopt similar policies this year.
