CALSTART Media Contact: Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@calstart.org, 917-887-0146

WASHINGTON, DC–Today, the United States Senate broke precedent to overrule the Senate parliamentarian and voted to revoke California’s long-standing authority under the law to set its own vehicle emissions standards. This authority—granted to California under the Clean Air Act more than 50 years ago and upheld by both Republican and Democratic administrations—has enabled the state to significantly reduce air pollution while spurring decades of innovation in the automotive industry that have improved vehicle performance and fostered the technological advancements that have made today’s zero emission vehicles possible. The important regulations overturned today (see “Important Background” below) were foundational tools for accelerating clean vehicle innovation, modernizing commercial fleets, expanding domestic supply chains, and growing clean manufacturing jobs nationwide. 

CALSTART’s President and CEO, John Boesel, issued the following statement in response to the vote: 

“In a massive handout to special interests, the Senate today took a radical action that creates enormous policy uncertainty for the entire transportation industry. This move concedes the industries of the future to global competitors, will increase air pollution, accelerate global warming and result in significant job loss. This vote upends decades of policy that has successfully resulted in cleaner air and the growth of a robust clean transportation industry. It is a brazen, yet futile, attempt to bring the clean transportation industry to a sudden halt. CALSTART will continue to partner with the states working to fill this gaping void left by today’s federal action.”  

NOTE TO REPORTERS:  

Prior to the vote, CALSTART joined more than 30 businesses and investors in urging Senators to oppose S.J. Res. 45, 46, and 47. The joint letter states: “What companies need now is policy stability and clear, long-term signals that reinforce this direction. Consistent federal policy on this matter will ensure this transition continues in a way that is economically sound, globally competitive, and aligned with American values of innovation, resilience, and leadership.” 

IMPORTANT BACKGROUND: 

In the vote today, the Senate overturned three important regulations that would have continued to result in cleaner cars, trucks, and buses over the next 15 years. These waivers allowed California to implement the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT), Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II), and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) regulations, which have already been adopted or considered by multiple states across the country, and have served as foundational tools for accelerating clean vehicle innovation, modernizing commercial fleets, expanding domestic supply chains, and growing clean manufacturing jobs nationwide. 

Since 1970 when then-Governor Ronald Reagan requested the waiver authority, air quality has improved significantly even as the state’s population doubled and the number of vehicles on California’s roads tripled. President Nixon signed the law granting California this authority.  

Concurrently, since CALSTART was established in 1992, California has developed a thriving clean transportation industry that employs some 250,000 people in the state. More zero-emission vehicles are produced in California than in any other state. 

About CALSTART

A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its more than 240 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.