How Californians can help win auto emissions fight

It was gratifying to see 23 states join California in filing suit Friday against the Trump administration’s effort to revoke the state’s authority to set fuel efficiency standards.

California’s foresight has helped set the nation’s clean energy standards for decades. The original federal waiver granted to the state in 1970 not only led to dramatic reductions in carbon emissions, but it also forced U.S. automakers to innovate and remain competitive with their foreign counterparts.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced Thursday that the Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency will jointly revoke the most recent waiver the Obama administration granted to the state in 2009. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Friday that he looks forward to challenging the Trump administration’s move, noting that two courts have already upheld California’s emissions standards.

It’s hard to see how weakening fuel efficiency standards is in anyone’s best interests — other than oil companies. The Trump administration’s argument that tighter fuel efficiency and tailpipe emission standards raises the price of a new car ignores the fact that the higher cost is offset by saving on fuel purchases over the life of the car.

Fifty years ago, when Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act into law, American cars, on average, got only 12 miles per gallon and spewed leaded gas into the air. The smog in California was so bad that another Republican, then-gov. Ronald Reagan, worked with a diverse group of California leaders to create the California Air Resources Board. Reagan’s willingness to listen to the best available science led in turn to California winning the original waiver from the federal government allowing the state to set stricter vehicle emissions standards.

The Trump administration’s desire to roll back standards took a heavy hit in July when Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a deal with four automakers — Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen — that will reduce tailpipe emissions from their vehicles by 3.7% a year between 2022 and 2026. California has an ambitious 2030 goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels. Reducing tailpipe emissions is a key element in meeting that goal.

Legal experts say it’s anybody’s guess how the Supreme Court will eventually rule in the states’ rights case. The current court is not environmentally friendly, but conservative courts have historically given states wide latitude to exercise their will. But the case may not be decided by the Supreme Court if Trump loses the White House in 2020. It’s one of the many reasons Californians should give careful consideration to whom they vote for in the state’s March 3 primary election and then in the Nov. 3 general election.

Californians can also help the state’s cause by buying cars from the four automakers committed to helping fight the threat of climate change. Californians buy about 2 million cars and light trucks every year. If competing automakers see a significant drop in sales, it may entice them to sign on to the California deal.

The Trump administration’s efforts to roll back fuel efficiency standards in California must not stand. The state should have the right to use every tool at its disposal to promote innovation in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions and the devastating impact of climate change.