WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wyoming’s U.S. senators were cheering Thursday as President Donald Trump signed legislation throwing out the so-called California EV mandate, which called for a phase-out of gasoline-powered vehicles that Republicans said would have had a nationwide impact.
“It is not the government's job to tell Americans what vehicle you have to buy,” U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, said in a statement. “Furthermore, failed California politicians like Gavin Newsom should not be the ones dictating emissions policy for the entire country. This disastrous policy belongs in the garbage where it started.”
U.S. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming posted to X on Thursday: “Americans across this country will have the freedom to choose what car they drive and what works best for them. Democrats' dream of forcing EVs on every American is over.”
The Senate last month sent the legislation — one of three related bills — to Trump’s desk. Before the Senate’s action, the House passed the trio of measures with support from U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming.
Votes in both chambers fell along party lines, with Democrats complaining of climate change and potential health problems from air pollution. In the Senate, Democrats also said the GOP was “going nuclear,” which means bending the rules to avoid a filibuster.
Three New Laws
With Trump’s signature, the three new laws overturn California air quality standards that had been copied in whole or in part by 17 states. Some rules pertained to heavy-duty vehicles and non-road engines.
But the most vigorously contested rules — copied by 12 states — were called Advanced Clean Cars II, nicknamed the California EV mandate. The rules prescribed a gradual phase-out of gas-powered vehicles. The rules required that by 2035, all sales of new cars and light-duty trucks had to be electric, or zero emissions by some other means of propulsion.
The EPA sets national emissions standards, but California since the 1960s has had a waiver allowing it to set its own rules. Under amendments passed in 1990 to the Clean Air Act, states have been allowed to copy California’s model.
California and the states that copied its model comprise a large part of the nation’s population.
Therefore, Republicans have argued, the entire auto industry was influenced by California’s rules. Car buyers in every state were hurt because the rules affected the availability and relatively low price of gas- and diesel-powered vehicles.
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO Chet Thompson and American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers issued a statement Thursday praising Republicans for scrapping the Advanced Clean Cars II rules.
“Today’s historic signing is critical for protecting U.S. families, manufacturing workers and our national energy security,” they said in the statement.
Cowboy State Daily was unable to obtain immediate comment from EV manufacturers and environmental groups.
California and 10 other states immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the laws enacted Thursday, Reuters reported.
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
