Statement on Gov. Newsom’s order banning gas-powered vehicles

The Bay Area Council, which was the first business organization to endorse California’s historic AB 32 Global Solutions Act and has worked aggressively across many policy areas to address the impacts of climate change, today (Sept. 23) issued the following statement on Gov. Newsom’s executive order to eliminate sales of gas-powered vehicles:

“California is once again asserting its bold leadership in addressing climate change. Gov. Newsom’s audacious executive order for eliminating sales of gas-powered vehicles by 2035 comes as California confronts one of the worst fire seasons in the state’s history along with myriad other harmful impacts from climate change. Critical in achieving these ambitious goals is ensuring California maintains its economic leadership and competitiveness and doesn’t create unexpected disadvantages for the millions of residents and businesses that will be affected.

“The Council has long supported market-driven solutions, including the cap-and-trade program under AB 32, for addressing climate change. We applaud Gov. Newsom for recognizing that unless the correct market conditions are in place to ensure that gasoline-alternative vehicles, and indeed transit alternatives, are price and performance competitive any prohibition is unlikely to succeed. We look forward to working with Gov. Newsom and his Administration, the California Air Resources Board and others to address the climate threats facing our state and developing the practical, market-based policies for achieving the state’s goals.”

In addition to the Council’s support of AB 32, we have worked to reduce vehicle-generated greenhouse gas emissions by promoting construction of denser, infill housing near transit and job centers, expanding and improving transit solutions and awarding $2.2 million last year through our Climate Resilience Challenge to various projects statewide aimed at blunting the impacts of climate change.