California’s global leadership on environmental issues, dating back to its pioneering crusade against smog in Los Angeles in the 1940s, is an appropriate source of pride for many residents. But in 2025, green policy debates are more complex and easy answers harder to come by. That state environmental laws have long been used to block badly needed housing and reservoirs is nothing to cheer about.
Two examples of green policy headaches have come to the fore in recent weeks, with both related to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2020 executive order requiring that beginning in 2035, no new fossil fuel-burning vehicles can be sold in the state. This order led the California Air Resources Board to enact rules that require that starting with model year 2026, at least 35% of each manufacturer’s new enger car and truck sales must be zero-emission vehicles. The percentage goes up each year until reaching 100% in 2035.
But as the U-T reported on Feb. 14, auto dealers say that is highly unrealistic. This isn’t because they are evil defenders of greenhouse gases but because drivers aren’t as enthusiastic about electric vehicles as hoped.
Though their sales are higher year over year, at most state auto dealers, the norm is now about 10% to 12% of purchased new vehicles being zero emissions. That rate is extremely unlikely to triple any time soon So how did the air board prepare for the possibility its mandate would be ignored by auto buyers? By giving itself the power to fine automakers who don’t meet this mandate by about $20,000 per vehicle. This bizarre threat is no way to achieve a policy goal.
Meanwhile, because of the state’s unique rules dictating special blends of gasoline, it costs far more here than in most of the U.S., and supplies are much more vulnerable to disruption because a relative handful of aging refineries produce the gas California requires. As EVs steadily increase in the state, these refineries are understandably even less a priority for such companies as Chevron and Phillips 66.
But instead of saying this is a small price to pay for cleaner air, the state’s most powerful politicians take turns denouncing Big Oil’s greed. While there is reason to suspect that some energy giants have gamed the system over the years, it’s obvious — or should be — that the Golden State’s gas exceptionalism has a built-in downside in cost and supply reliability. Instead, however, some energy officials think the answer to this problem is for the state government to run its own refinery or refineries — even though it utterly lacks expertise and audits show terrible state management of everything from DMV to computer systems to unemployment insurance to the bullet train.
Isn’t a better approach working with the Western States Petroleum Association to minimize this problem instead of treating Chevron and company as cartoon villains? Of course.
Don’t fret, Sacramento politicians: You’ll find new scapegoats. You’ve got a knack for it.
