What to know about the US Senate’s effort to block vehicle-emission rules in California

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Associated Press or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on a measure that would block California’s landmark rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035
• The effort — backed by the Republican-controlled Congress — targets three California emissions waivers and could halt the state’s pioneering vehicle standards if passed
• California officials have vowed legal action if the measure advances

🔭 The context: Under the Clean Air Act, California has long held authority to set stricter emissions standards due to its severe air pollution history
• That authority was revoked under President Trump and later reinstated by the Biden administration in 2022
• California’s rules have since been adopted by over a dozen states, influencing nationwide vehicle market trends and emissions policies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Transportation is the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
• California’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is seen as a critical step toward decarbonizing road transport
• Rolling back this authority would set back EV adoption, risk emissions progress, and diminish state-led climate action — while emboldening federal resistance to ambitious climate standards

⏭️ What's next: If the Senate passes the measure, it could trigger a legal standoff between the federal government and California
• Governor Gavin Newsom and state regulators have stated they will sue to defend the state’s regulatory autonomy
• Meanwhile, states like New York, Colorado, and New Mexico continue advancing ZEV mandates, while others — such as Vermont and Delaware — are re-evaluating their participation

💬 One quote: “Banning gas and hybrid cars is a national issue that should be decided by Congress, not an unelected state agency,” — Mike Stanton, President and CEO, National Automobile Dealers Association

📈 One stat: California must increase its public EV chargers from 84,000 today to 1.2 million by 2030 to meet its clean vehicle targets, according to the California Energy Commission

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of top US mobility firms Ford, and General Motors

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