January 16, 2025

CARB Drops Request for Federal Approval of EV Truck Rules

This week the California Air Resources Board (CARB) withdrew its outstanding request for federal approval to fully implement its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which mandates the transition from diesel to zero-emission trucks and other vehicles.

To have moved forward with the full ACF rollout, CARB would have needed a waiver of preemption from EPA under the federal Clean Air Act, which gives California unique leeway to set its own air emissions standards. In December 2023, CARB issued a notice that it would halt ACF enforcement until it could secure the EPA waiver.

CARB’s withdrawal of its waiver request also likely impacts the efforts of several other states – including Colorado and New Mexico – that have repeatedly moved to copy California air standards. Specifically, the lack of a waiver for California could challenge if or how other states can move forward with their own aggressive zero-emission vehicle mandates.

Western Growers (WG) submitted both written and oral comments during the EPA public comment period last fall, urging it to deny the waiver request. WG also co-led a joint coalition letter that similarly urged EPA to deny the waiver. The letter is signed by 47 state and national organizations representing a diverse swath of the farming and agri-food supply chains.