California is walking back its efforts to ban diesel trucks in the state just days before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
California withdrew certain requests it had made to the federal government which would have implemented the diesel ban in 2036.
The big picture: One of the requests that the state made to the Environmental Protection Agency would have banned the sale of new diesel semi-trucks and buses in 2036.
- The rule would have required trucking firms and other fleet-based businesses (such as waste haulers and logistics delivery businesses) to convert their medium and heavy-duty fleets to electric or hydrogen models by 2042.
- Another rule request pulled by the state would have banned locomotive engines that would be over 23 years old in 2030.
Flashback: The California Air Resources Control Board first approved the rules in 2023 and had to make a request to the EPA to gain the ability to enact the rules.
State of play: Had the rules gone through, the Trump administration would have been expected to deny them, given the President-elect’s vocal opposition to a number of California’s clean air initiatives.
What they’re saying: Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph said in a statement that the state is withdrawing the request because of Trump.
- “California has withdrawn its pending waiver and authorization requests that U.S. EPA has not yet acted on,” Randolph said. “While we are disappointed that U.S. EPA was unable to act on all the requests in time, the withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty presented by the incoming administration that previously attacked California’s programs to protect public health and the climate, and has said will continue to oppose those programs.”
