Update: California is warning residents not to use electrical charging because of heat wave.
What kind of world are we living in?
From the New York Times: “The rule, issued by the California Air Resources Board, will require that all new cars sold in the state by 2035 be free of greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide. The rule also sets interim targets, requiring that 35 percent of new passenger vehicles sold by 2026 produce zero emissions. That requirement climbs to 68 percent by 2030.”
The Times says that California will fine automakers “up to $20,000 for every car that falls short of production targets,” according to Liane Randolph, chairperson of the California Resources Board, which will issue the rule. (It’s awaiting a final authorization from the Biden administration to make its environmental action more stringent than federal regulation.)
Image by Gerd Altmann at Pixabay. Authors of the Times article are Coral Davenport, Lisa Friedman and
Will Californians come up here to Oregon or go to Nevada or Arizona to buy a car? Then who, if anyone, gets fined when the car is registered in California? Should I buy a car dealership just across the border from California, say in Reno or Las Vegas? Or maybe a used car dealership in CA? The point is that such a mandate can only spur higher prices and new ways to avoid the regulations.
On the other hand, perhaps CA will get more and more power from solar and wind, and perhaps figure a way to recycle batteries.
On the other hand, will it make any real difference to GHGs since China, India, SE Asia contribute over 50%, not to mention animal flatulence, even some trees, beverage manufacturers and other fermenters. Worldwatch Institute estimated livestock production accounted directly and indirectly for 51% of GHGs, while other sources found direct emissions from livestock (mainly flatulence it seems) was about 14%. Maybe California should mandate all residents be vegetarians.
It is literally impossible for California to increase electrical capacity sufficient to meet current demand and also charge a fleet of EVs that could replace the current ICE fleet, using wind and solar, in any reasonable amount of time. While some of the people pushing these policies don’t get it, there are certainly those who do, including people at the top. They understand that they are putting us on course for reduced private ownership of vehicles and lower living standards in general.
Yes, “what kind of world are we living in” indeed!