Supreme Court Upholds California's EPA Waiver for Stricter Emissions Standards, 2035 Gas Car Ban in Play

Dec 16, 2024, 05:13 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a challenge against California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, upholding the state's ability to enforce stricter regulations than the federal government. This decision comes after the Biden administration reinstated California's EPA waiver in 2022, which had been rolled back by the Trump administration in 2019. The waiver allows California to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, a move that could influence national car manufacturing standards due to the state's significant market size. The Supreme Court's decision to not hear the case was met with dissent from Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have granted the review. Despite potential opposition from the incoming Trump administration, the Biden administration's EPA is reportedly considering granting California a waiver to enforce its gas car ban.