California Air Resources Board

Aging oil refineries in California, such as Phillips 66 and Valero Benicia, have shut down, reducing the state’s refining capacity by 17%. The article argues California should stop subsidizing these aging refineries and instead focus on ensuring gasoline supply stability through imports and infrastructure, while supporting environmental regulations and the shift to electric vehicles.

California’s MyFirstEV program offers $3,500 rebates for first-time buyers or lessees of new zero-emission vehicles under $50,000 and $1,750 for used vehicles under $25,000. Funded by state budgets and automakers, the program aims to boost EV adoption after federal tax credits ended. First-time buyers must sign a legal declaration confirming no prior EV ownership.

A federal judge denied the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's motion to dismiss a lawsuit by five environmental justice groups, ruling citizens can sue under the Clean Air Act if the state fails regulatory duties. The lawsuit alleges the district manipulated an emissions accounting system to allow unmitigated pollution, with a 2020 audit confirming improper offset calculations.

California's new EV incentive program, MyFirstEV, offers $3,500 rebates for first-time buyers of new EVs priced under $50,000. However, California-based EV manufacturers like Rivian and Lucid are exempt from the price cap, allowing their higher-priced vehicles to qualify. Tesla, which moved its corporate headquarters out of California, is excluded from the exemption and must comply with the price cap.

Gavin Newsom's family has long ties to the Getty oil empire, including his father's legal work for the Getty family and financial support from an oil-fortuned trust. Newsom's recent policy shifts on California's oil industry, including both criticizing refiners and later supporting drilling, may impact his presidential ambitions.

California requires automakers to install data-recording devices in new cars to monitor emission reduction programs, part of the state's goal to phase out gas and diesel vehicles. This has created political challenges.

California requires new cars to collect vehicle data for emission monitoring, prompting auto industry opposition over privacy concerns. A law (Senate Bill 1394) mandates mechanisms to disable vehicle tracking to prevent abuse by domestic abusers, but automakers argue the technical requirements are impractical to implement by the deadline.

President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people, including nine individuals charged with Clean Air Act violations related to bypassing vehicle emissions systems and a former business partner of Jack Abramoff. The pardons were announced as part of Trump's expanded use of executive power in his second term.

President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people, including a former business partner of Jack Abramoff and nine individuals convicted of violating vehicle emissions controls. The pardons align with Trump's second-term trend of granting clemency to allies and those associated with bypassing environmental regulations.

Disneyland must replace gas-powered engines in the Autopia ride with electric vehicles by February 2027 to comply with California's emissions standards, or risk closing the attraction. Honda, the ride's sponsor, failed to certify the engines in 2023, leading to a $56,250 fine and a mandate to transition to electric vehicles. Disney stated it is developing a plan to electrify the ride, which is one of the original attractions from the park's 1955 opening.

California Senate Democrats threaten to block Gov. Gavin Newsom's priorities, including high-speed rail and electric-car incentives, over his administration's new carbon market rules that divert funds from a prior climate deal. The rules allocate free pollution permits worth up to $4 billion to companies, including fossil fuel industries, risking billions in funding for transit, housing, and environmental programs.

California air regulators approved a controversial overhaul of the state’s carbon market, creating a program that could provide billions in free pollution permits to oil refineries and major polluters. Critics, including environmental groups and lawmakers, argue the changes weaken climate protections and reduce funding for programs like affordable housing and public transit.

California's Air Resources Board approved changes to the state's cap-and-invest program, allowing polluting industries to earn free emissions allowances by investing in decarbonizing their facilities. Critics argue this could undermine California's decarbonization efforts.

California air regulators updated the cap-and-trade climate program, granting free allowances to companies building emission-reducing projects. Environmentalists and the oil industry criticized the changes, arguing they weaken emissions cuts and hinder energy cost reductions, while regulators claim it supports business retention and climate goals.

California’s top air regulator proposed changes to the state’s cap-and-invest carbon market program. Key lawmakers and environmental groups argue the overhaul would undermine the program and California’s decarbonization goals.

Disneyland's Autopia attraction is replacing its gas-powered engines with electric cars as part of an agreement with the California Air Resources Board. The upgrade is set to be completed in early 2027. Work on designing and testing a fully electric vehicle prototype is currently underway.