The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to grant California a waiver from the Clean Air Act preemption. This waiver allows the California Air Resources Board's (CARB's) Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations to set new emission standards for vehicles, which are stricter than federal requirements and apply to 2026 and later model years. The EPA determined that California's standards are necessary for public health and are not arbitrary or unreasonable. The decision ensures that California can enforce rules aimed at reducing emissions, including requirements for zero-emission vehicles.
Simple Explanation
The EPA told California it's okay to have stricter car pollution rules than the rest of the country because they want cleaner air, which might seem unfair to some people, but it's supposed to help everyone breathe better.