Is ca carb going away

So, is CARB actually disappearing? Nah. Not happening. The California Air Resources Board isn't going anywhere—it's still very much alive and kicking, despite all the noise. Lawsuits, political jabs, federal threats... yeah, they're real. But the agency itself? Permanent. What's shaky is its ability to keep setting those tough emissions standards under the Clean Air Act Waiver. That's where the real fight is. Let's dig into what's actually going on, what's at stake, and where things might be headed.

What exactly is CARB and why does it matter?

CARB's this California state agency that’s been around since 1967. Their job? Regulating air pollution and greenhouse gases. What makes them special is they get to set their own vehicle emissions rules—way stricter than the feds'. Under the Clean Air Act, California can ask the EPA for a waiver to enforce those rules. And here's the kicker: because California's market is so huge, automakers just build cars that meet CARB standards for the whole country. So CARB basically decides what the whole U.S. drives, emissions-wise. That's power.

Why do people think CARB is going away?

People keep asking because of a few things:

• Legal Challenges: Trump's administration yanked California's waiver in 2019. Biden brought it back in 2022. Flip-flopping like that makes everyone nervous.
• Legislative Attacks: Congress keeps trying to pass bills that'd permanently block California from setting its own standards. None have passed, but the intent's clear.
• Industry Pushback: Automakers and oil companies are fighting CARB's rule to phase out new gas cars by 2035. Lots of lobbying, lots of pressure.

Is CARB's Clean Air Act Waiver at risk?

This is the big one. The waiver is the legal backbone of CARB's vehicle standards. Without it, they'd still regulate factories and refineries, but cars? Nope. Right now, under Biden, it's fine. But a future president could pull it again. And there's a bigger threat: the Supreme Court. In West Virginia v. EPA (2022), they limited the EPA's power using the "major questions doctrine." Some legal folks think that same logic could be used to challenge California's waiver—arguing it needs explicit congressional approval. That's a real, live risk.

What are the "People Also Ask" questions about this topic?

Will CARB's 2035 gas car ban be overturned?

The Advanced Clean Cars II rule isn't a law—it's a regulation. CARB could change or scrap it themselves, or the feds could kill it by revoking the waiver. For now, it's moving forward. But the auto industry is slowing their EV push, which puts pressure on CARB to delay. Overturning it is possible, but not happening tomorrow.

Can CARB enforce its rules in other states?

Nope, only in California. But 17 other states—like New York, Massachusetts, and Washington—have adopted CARB's ZEV standards under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act. They follow CARB's lead but enforce it themselves. If California loses its waiver, those states lose their legal footing too.

Is CARB the same as the EPA?

No way. EPA's federal. CARB's state. EPA sets the floor—minimum standards. CARB sets a higher ceiling, with a waiver. Think of it like this: EPA says "at least this much," CARB says "we're doing more." They don't replace each other.

What happens to CARB if a Republican wins the presidency in 2024?

Odds are they'd revoke the waiver again. That wouldn't kill CARB, but it'd take away their biggest tool—setting vehicle emissions standards. They'd still handle stationary sources and non-road engines (like lawnmowers). The agency survives, but its influence? Gutted.

Key data: The current state of CARB's programs

What you should know: A checklist

• CARB is NOT being abolished. It's a permanent state agency.
• The waiver is the target. The fight's about California's right to set its own vehicle standards.
• Legal uncertainty is the biggest risk. The Supreme Court's "major questions doctrine" could kill the waiver.
• Political swings matter. A future president can revoke the waiver, but another can bring it back.
• State law is strong. California's own laws (like AB 32) still let CARB regulate greenhouse gases, even without a federal waiver.
• Industry is adapting. Automakers invest in EVs but also lobby for delays. The 2035 deadline isn't set in stone.

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