In a striking setback to reduce California’s air pollution but a win for trucking companies, state regulators have walked away from their ambitious plan to phase out diesel trucks less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
As CalMatters’ Alejandro Lazo explains, in 2023 the California Air Resources Board voted to ban the sale of new diesel big rigs by 2036 and require large fleets to convert all their trucks to zero-emission models by 2042. About 1.8 million trucks operate in the state.
To enforce the ban, California needs a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (In December, for example, the Biden administration approved California’s mandate to phase out new gas-powered cars.) But on Tuesday the board withdrew its requests for approving emission standards for diesel trucks in anticipation that the Trump administration will likely reject them.
- Liane Randolph, board chairperson, in a statement: “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.”
Trump has repeatedly denounced the state’s electric car mandates, and during his first term tried to revoke California’s authority to limit car emissions. In October he also said no state would be allowed to ban gas-powered cars under his presidency.
Environmentalists criticized the withdrawal, including Paul Cort, the director of Earthjustice’s Right To Zero campaign, who argued that “diesel is one of the most dangerous kinds of air pollution for human health.”
The withdrawal follows the air board’s decision in December to pull the plug on what would have been a first-in-the-nation initiative to increase electric motorcycle sales.
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Wildfire newsletter: CalMatters is teaming up with PBS SoCal, LAist and KCRW to offer a free newsletter that delivers new and accurate information about the Southern California fires. Read the latest edition here.
Other Stories You Should Know
Students and homelessness crisis affected by wildfires
Let’s dive into some news about the Los Angeles County fires:
- Unhoused residents: The wildfires will likely worsen the housing shortage in a county that already has more than 75,000 unhoused residents, writes CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall. But looking back at past fires shed light on other potential housing issues to come: People who can’t insure their homes, for example, could wind up homeless because they can’t find another place to live, and tenants in undamaged buildings could face evictions if their landlords decide to raise rents. Read more here.
- Students: On Tuesday Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to help young students displaced by the fires. This includes waiving certain state rules to allow them to attend schools outside their districts, and helping schools avoid penalties if they fail to meet the minimum amount of school days in a year. Meanwhile, colleges and universities across L.A. County are responding to the fire by providing services such as offering temporary housing for employees and organizing fundraising efforts, write CalMatters’ College Journalism Network reporters. Read more here.
Dry conditions a major factor
While Trump continues to blame Newsom’s water policies and alleged mismanagement by state officials for the Southern California fires, a UCLA report released Monday finds that a buildup of vegetation, dry conditions and severe winds were major factors fueling the fires.
As CalMatters environment reporter Alastair Bland explains, Southern California recently experienced two unusually rainy winters — which caused brush to flourish — followed by one of the hottest summers on record last year.
In the days before the blazes began, the air in the region was also exceedingly dry.
Add to these conditions Santa Winds blowing at 100 mph and experts say there is little that could have been done to prevent the disaster, as these fires would become nearly unstoppable once ignited.
- Alexandra Syphard, senior research ecologist at the Conservation Biology Institute: “I do not believe there is anything that wildland management could have done to qualitatively or substantially alter the outcome of these fires.”
More weather swings: Alastair and CalMatters’ video strategy director Robert Meeks also have a video segment on how weather extremes in wet Northern California and arid Southern California fuel climate dangers as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.
SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.
And lastly: Waiting for insulin
Two years ago, Gov. Newsom vetoed a bill that would have lowered insulin copayments, citing a plan for California to produce its own insulin. But the $100 million project is years away from delivering medicine. Find out why from CalMatters health reporter Kristen Hwang.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: If California cannot avoid natural disasters, we need to adopt a more preventive approach instead of reacting after the fact.
Other things worth your time:
Rural areas got millions in fire prevention funds over burned parts of LA // Los Angeles Times
GOP congressional leaders push for conditions on CA wildfire relief // KQED
Altadena has avoided CA’s fire insurance hell. That won’t last // Grist
In charred Altadena remnants, a painful search for victims // The Washington Post
Many of CA’s most destructive fires were caused by power lines // The New York Times
Why CA’s federal courts will likely remain liberal under Trump // San Francisco Chronicle
People with Bay Area ties may get Trump pardons for Jan. 6 // San Francisco Chronicle
Central Valley organization ramps up immigration aid amid mass deportation fears // The Modesto Bee
Tijuana declares emergency ahead of possible mass deportations // The San Diego Union-Tribune