After the recent wildfires and immense heat which climate change contributed to, California has begun to adapt new policies to battle this arising problem. One of these policies is the ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in California by 2035. 

This policy plans to have all automobiles be hydrogen-powered or battery-powered by the next 15 years. Auto dealers will slowly start to decline the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles until fully removing them in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives. 

“This is the next big industry,” said California governor Gavin Newsom. California has always been a leading state when it comes to adopting more fuel efficient laws. One specific example would be how California plans to only use energy from renewable resources such as solar and wind power by 2045. 

Due to the concerning conditions in the state of California, Governor Newsom is trying to put his plan into action even faster. Selling these eco-friendly cars is going to be difficult as the pricing and the convenience of gasoline-powered cars just makes the decision so much easier. In 2019, according to a study by the California New Car Dealers Association, only 8% of the vehicles sold were battery-powered.

“It’s feasible, but it’s going to take California pulling all the levers at its disposal,” said Don Anoir, deputy director of the clean vehicles program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. California will have to make it easier for people to afford electric vehicles as well as adding more charging stations around the state.

This new policy will add onto California’s existing vehicle policies. By 2030, the goal is to have at least five million zero emission vehicles on the road. Over 50% of the trucks in the state sold have to be zero emission as well. Currently, a new regulation is being put onto ride hailing companies to ensure that they use electric vehicles as well.

All of these actions should please environmental groups, and it did, but not in the way Newsom was hoping for. They enjoyed Newsom’s plan of action and how he is fighting climate change, but see that no action is happening currently. Newsom is still giving funding to oil companies which essentially goes against his plan. He says that he has set goals for ending California’s excessive fossil fuel extractions, but lacks the authority to do so. This shows that the plan is not perfect, and there are some factors that still have to be dealt with.

Another obstacle in Newsom’s proposal is the Trump Administration. The Administration has challenged California’s ability to create its own pollution standards, but California has defended its authority with the 1970 Clean Air Act, an act designed to protect the environment and human health from pollution.

The chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols expects the case to be taken to court. Whatever happens, here’s to hoping that the environment gets better.”We’ll get there, said Nichols.

Photo courtesy of FUTURISM.COM