Automakers are abandoning their challenge to California’s emissions standards.
Toyota, General Motors, Nissan and others had joined the Trump administration’s effort to revoke the state’s authority to limit tailpipe emissions. Now, the companies say they want to work with President Biden on new rules.
"But we have seen those kinds of promises before when there was a Democratic Administration in the White House, only to be changed when there was a Republican one," said Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and current president of 7th Generation Advisors.
Tamminen told KCBS Radio the automakers’ abandonment of their legal fight for a Trump-era rule blocking California from setting emissions standards is good news.
California has unique rights to set more stringent standards under the Clean Air Act, as the federal version was modeled after the state’s own legislation in the early 1970s.
"Basically, we're setting the emissions standards for the nation," Tamminen said.
Car companies will continue doing businesses with consumers, who are looking for more fuel-efficient vehicles and ways to get away from fossil fuels all together. Tamminen is a fan of hydrogen fuel technology and electric, having recently seen advertisements for GM’s new Hummer EV.
“Ford is advertising their electric pick-up truck as being more brawny than anything they’ve ever had before," he added. "Then, of course, Tesla is the cool kids’ electric car."
As these vehicles become more convenient, Tamminen said the transition will happen rapidly and companies will stay the course.
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