SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 25: San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom talks with reporters before test driving a plug-in version of the popular Toyota Prius that is one of four on loan to the city for evaluation August 25, 2010 in San Francisco, California. With sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars expected to increase in the coming years, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has set aside $5 million to increase the number of electric car charging stations to 5,000 around the Bay Area. There are currently 120 stations in the area. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state will join a coalition of 11 states pushing to accelerate the transition to cleaner, more affordable cars. The move comes just one day after the U.S. Senate voted to challenge California’s longstanding ability to set its own vehicle emissions standards—a power the state has held for decades under the federal Clean Air Act.
The coalition, part of the U.S. Climate Alliance, includes California, Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. The states say they are determined to hold the line on air quality standards, even as federal lawmakers attempt to roll them back.
“This isn’t just about tailpipes—it’s about states’ rights, public health, and the future of American industry,” Newsom said in a statement that struck a defiant tone. The coalition aims to not only maintain but also expand clean car access, improve charging infrastructure, and support domestic auto workers and manufacturers.
The backlash from California and its partner states comes amid increasing tension between federal and state governments over environmental regulation. Critics argue that the Senate’s vote to revoke California’s emissions authority prioritizes polluting industries over public health and undermines years of progress on clean transportation.
California’s emissions have fallen 20% since 2000, even as its economy grew by nearly 80%, according to state data. Advocates of the state’s vehicle standards point to this trend as proof that environmental responsibility and economic growth are not mutually exclusive.
Under the new coalition, states plan to coordinate on regulatory strategies and stakeholder engagement to ensure stability for manufacturers and consumers alike. They also plan to explore next-generation standards and policies aimed at making electric and hybrid vehicles more accessible—both in cost and availability—especially for lower-income communities.
This isn’t California’s first battle over air quality. The state has repeatedly clashed with federal administrations over its ability to regulate emissions more stringently than national standards. That authority, first granted under the Clean Air Act, has been a cornerstone of California’s environmental identity for more than 50 years.
Newsom and other governors in the coalition say they’re prepared for a prolonged fight to protect their ability to act where they believe the federal government is failing. As the country’s largest state and auto market, California’s actions often ripple nationwide.
The message from Sacramento is clear: Clean air isn’t negotiable—and they’re not backing down.
