California moves forward on public health and clean vehicles as federal agencies move backwards
Contacts
What you need to know: State agencies are acting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s direction to push forward with a 21st century economy that prioritizes public health and clean transportation, despite massive dereliction of duty by the federal government.
Sacramento — Today, California state agencies published a report (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/report-governor-executive-order-n-27-25-zero-emissions-vehicle-deployment) in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order on zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) deployment. The report, developed with input from the public, charts a path to expand clean and ZEV adoption across all vehicle types, protect public health, and maintain the state’s momentum in the face of federal rollbacks.
Signed on June 12, 2025, Executive Order N-27-25 (https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/12/governor-newsom-signs-executive-order-doubling-down-on-states-commitment-to-clean-cars-and-trucks-kickstarts-next-phase-of-leadership/) directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Energy Commission (CEC), Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), and Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to recommend strategies that make clean transportation more affordable, reliable, and accessible.
Key Highlights from the Report
The report builds on California’s longstanding leadership in clean transportation. The state has already surpassed its initial goal of deploying 2 million ZEVs and leads the nation in ZEV manufacturing jobs and infrastructure. The report details actions in six areas.
Private Investment: Emphasizes the importance of sustaining the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program to maintain private investment in the ZEV market.
Incentives: Proposes considering funding, contingent upon the availability of resources, to replace expiring federal tax credits and expand access to ZEVs for low-income consumers and small businesses.
Infrastructure: Prioritizes reliable EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure, including reducing barriers, streamlining permitting and continued support for charging and fueling infrastructure.
Fuel Pricing: Recommends strategies to reduce EV charging costs, including leveraging the California Climate Credit and advancing energy market regionalization.
Regulations: Calls for new consumer protection rules and a statewide indirect source rule to reduce emissions from high-impact areas.
Procurement: Directs state agencies to lead by example through ZEV-first purchasing policies and support for local government fleet electrification.
To shape the recommendations, state agencies hosted public dialogue sessions in Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, and online, gathering input from community members, tribal leaders, environmental advocates, and industry stakeholders. More than a thousand Californians took part and almost 200 more provided written comments and suggestions.
The report emphasizes delivering benefits to communities who suffer from the highest levels of air pollution in the state, ensuring that those communities are prioritized in the transition to clean transportation.
Why It Matters
California has made major progress on air quality, but its geography and persistent pollution challenges mean the work isn't over. The state must continue cutting vehicle emissions to meet national air quality standards, fulfill state goals, and fight climate change.
Transportation is responsible for about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions and 60% of the state’s criteria and smog-forming pollutants;
California has 5 of the 10 most polluted cities in the U.S.
10 million Californians live with air that U.S. EPA has determined is among the worst in the nation;
People who live in these areas suffer unusually high rates of asthma, heart and lung disease and often die prematurely.
Cleaner vehicles will also save Californians billions of dollars in fuel, maintenance and healthcare costs as the state pushes for the cleanest, most affordable ways to travel.
What’s Next
The priority recommendations outlined in the report will guide near-term actions and help inform legislative efforts to ensure the state stays on track to meet its air quality and climate goals — and continues leading the nation in clean transportation innovation.