Critics of the state’s push to end reliance on gas-powered vehicles seized on the news. But environmentalists said the extreme weather underscored the need for the E.V. transition.
The decision, to take effect by 2035, will very likely speed a wider transition to electric vehicles because many other states follow California’s standards.
If adopted, the new measures would make a dent in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and set the bar for the broader auto industry.
The state is expected to write strict auto pollution standards designed to significantly speed the transition to electric vehicles and influence new federal rules.
Many Republicans vying to replace Newsom as governor want to roll back the state’s ambitious plans to cut planet-warming emissions, a change with nationwide implications.
