The Trump administration is taking the aggressive move of not only trying to freeze fuel economy standards for the nation’s cars and light duty trucks, but it is also attempting to neuter California’s unique authority to set its own standards. However, California plans on fighting back. California’s ability to set its own fuel economy standards dates back decades, an authority granted to the state because of horrific smog that suffocated parts of the state in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of the Trump administration’s attempt to weaken fuel economy standards – by freezing them in 2020 at 37 miles per gallon, instead of allowing them to ratchet up to over 50 mpg by 2025 – California is about to move to decouple its regulations from that of the federal government. A dozen other states that follow California’s lead would likely follow suit. By attempting to go it alone, forging […]