Biden EPA Grants California Waivers for Yard Equipment, Refrigeration Units, Offroad Vehicles
The Biden administration granted California permissions to set zero-emissions standards for lawn mowers and leaf blowers as well low-emissions rules for refrigerated trucks and certain off-road vehicles.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was under pressure to approve eight waivers to the Clean Air Act before leaving office, as President-elect Donald Trump was unlikely to approve the waivers. Trump could still revoke the waivers as he did in 2019.
The newly approved waivers allow the following rules:
The Small Off-Road Engines (SORE) rule, which would ban the sale of gas-powered yard equipment.
The Transport Refrigeration Units rule, which would phase out diesel-powered transport refrigeration units. (The partial waiver did not approve the requirement that diesel fleets convert at least 15% of their fleet to zero emissions each year.)
The In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleet rule, which would phase out certain diesel fueled equipment.
The waivers approved in December were for the following rules:
The Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which would eventually ban the sale of new, gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
The Heavy-Duty Omnibus rule, which would establish more stringent emissions standards for heavy-duty engines and lengthen the useful life and emissions warranty for new heavy-duty vehicles.
California is still waiting on waivers for the following rules:
The In-Use Locomotive rule, which would phase out diesel engine locomotives.
The Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which would require cargo trucks that serve ports and rail yards, known as drayage trucks, to be ZEVs by 2035; off-road vehicles to by fully ZEVs by 2035; and medium and heavy-duty vehicles to be fully ZEVs by 2045. All new heavy trucks sold in California must be ZEVs by 2036.
The Commercial Harbor Craft rule, which would require new harbor craft to be zero-emissions.