Adopt California Low Emission Vehicle (CALEV) Standards (TLU Action 1.A.3)

Adopt California Low-Emission Vehicle (CALEV) standards, including the tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions standards. Under the Clean Air Act, Section 209, states may not develop their own vehicle emission standards. The exception to that rule is the State of California, which may set its own standards provided they are at least as stringent as federal standards. California standards are typically more stringent than federal standards. The remaining 49 states have the option of either following federal emission standards or adopting the CALEV standards. The CALEV requirements include a tailpipe greenhouse gas emission standard that does not exist for federal emission standards. CALEV also includes a zero-emission-vehicle requirement (i.e., electric vehicles). States that adopt CALEV standards may choose to include the greenhouse gas and zero-emission-vehicle requirements or not. CALEV states allow only the sale of vehicles certified to CALEV standards. Unlike states that operate under federal vehicle emission standards, where the standards are enforced by EPA, any state that adopts CALEV is responsible for enforcing the program provisions by itself.