Senate Votes to Repeal California’s Electric Vehicle Mandate
In a move that is sure to send ripples of discontent through the climate activism community, the Senate has voted to dismantle California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate. This development is particularly significant given that the mandate was one of the last major legislative actions taken by President Joe Biden before he exited the Oval Office.
As a reminder, Biden’s administration made a sprint for the finish line, pushing through a host of climate change initiatives during the waning days of his presidency. The resolution to revoke the EV mandate passed with a narrow margin of 51-44, showcasing a stark partisan divide, although it received unexpected support from one Democratic senator.
The Washington Free Beacon reported:
Senate Votes to Overturn California’s EV Mandate in Resounding Defeat for Climate Activists
On Thursday morning, the Senate approved a resolution that revokes California’s federal waiver, which allowed the state—and several others led by Democrats—to mandate electric vehicle sales. This decision represents a significant setback for activists advocating for green energy and measures to combat global warming.
The resolution, championed by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.) since April, passed with bipartisan support, though it was primarily a Republican affair. Only one Democrat, Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, joined the ranks of the GOP, while five lawmakers opted to sit this one out.
Capito, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, voiced her concerns: “The impact of California’s waiver would have been felt across the country, harming multiple sectors of our economy and costing hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process.”
This vote is a notable defeat for California, which instituted its EV mandate in 2022, and a significant loss for climate advocates who had staunchly defended the law.
Moreover, this outcome serves as a victory for former President Donald Trump and other critics of policies mandating consumer purchases of electric vehicles. During his campaigns, Trump dismissed the idea of an all-electric future as a “crazed concept,” warning it could devastate the auto industry and harm workers in Michigan.
Meanwhile, CBS News has reported that California is gearing up to retaliate:
California to Sue Over Senate Vote Revoking State’s EV Mandate and Emission Standards
In response to the Senate’s decision to halt the state’s clean vehicle policies, California is preparing to launch a lawsuit. Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement asserting that the state will challenge the Senate’s nullification of its emission waivers, which set stricter standards than those mandated at the federal level. Notably, one of the rules, known as the “EV mandate,” aims to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles and require all new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035.
This legislative action raises pertinent questions about the role of consumer choice in the marketplace. Mandating that consumers adopt specific products can often backfire; after all, enthusiasm for electric vehicles should ideally stem from desire, not legislative decree.
