The Trump administration plans to eliminate the special waiver that allows California to regulate automobile emissions as part of its proposed revision of Obama-era standards, Bloomberg and Reuters reported Monday. The proposed overhauls would cap federal fuel economy requirements at the 2020 average level of 35 miles per gallon, instead of mandating that it surpass 50 miles per gallon by 2025. The Trump administration deemed the 2012 deal unworkable in April, citing lower gas prices and rejecting scientific calculations of the “social cost of carbon” in its 38-page finding. Even if the Trump administration rolled back federal fuel efficiency standards, California vowed to maintain its stricter standards, essentially forcing auto manufacturers to continue to produce vehicles according to the Obama-era regulation. Now, this week, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are expected to propose barring California from setting its own fuel economy rules.

Source: Huffington Post July 23, 2018 16:59 UTC