Governor Newsom Signs Executive Orders Aimed at Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Governor Newson recently enacted two executive orders meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California. In late September, the Governor signed an executive order to end the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks in California by 2035 with the intent to tackle mobile transportation emissions. The Governor said transportation emissions account for more than 50 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The executive order does not prevent the sale, purchase, or ownership of used gas-powered vehicles.

Of serious concern, the executive order not only covers passenger vehicle and truck regulations, it greatly impacts off-road agricultural equipment and medium and heavy-duty trucks vital to the movement of food. The feasibility of some of these actions is questionable under the timeline provided.

• Off-Road Vehicles
Specifically, the order directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to set a 100 percent zero-emission target for off-road vehicles and equipment in California by 2035, which will significantly affect the agricultural equipment our members use in farming and food processing.

• Medium & Heavy-Duty Trucks
The Governor’s executive order also requires CARB to establish regulations mandating higher volumes of new zero-emission medium and heavy-duty trucks sold and operated in the state to move toward the objective of 100 percent of the fleet becoming zero-emission where feasible by 2045. In addition, CARB is directed to develop regulations requiring all drayage trucks to be zero-emission by 2035.

• Passenger Vehicles & Trucks
Much attention is already being given to this portion of the executive order. It requires CARB to issue regulations to ensure all new vehicles sold in the state are zero-emission by 2035.

The order includes a provision to end the issuance of new hydraulic fracturing (fracking) permits by 2024, which must be approved by the California State Legislature.

There is tremendous concern and pushback by the agricultural and business community on this executive order.

The Governor also signed an executive order calling for the protection of California land and coastal waters. The order is to conserve 30% of the state’s land and 30% of coastal waters by 2030. This executive order is an attempt to store carbon in the state’s natural and working lands and remove it from the atmosphere. It directs state agencies to pursue strategies and partnerships that focus on healthy soil management, wetlands restoration, active forest management and boosting green infrastructure.

Newsom said officials can't forget about the state's land, ranchers and farmers who produce much of the nation's food supply: "Seventy thousand farmers and ranchers are here in the state. Four hundred commodities that we sell to the world. We not only sell to the world, we sell to this nation over a third of all the vegetables and two-thirds of all the fruits and nuts," he said.

Written by CLFP Government Affairs Director Trudi Hughes.