California’s authority to set stricter emissions standards is not a modern invention. The roots trace back to the late 1960s, when Los Angeles was grappling with some of the worst smog in the nation. The state created its own air resources board before the EPA even existed, pioneering clean air legislation that served as a national model.
When Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, California was given a unique exemption due to its pre-existing standards. This waiver system recognized the state’s ongoing environmental leadership and its pressing need to combat pollution in densely populated urban centers.
Over the years, this authority allowed California to shape cleaner fuel blends, promote catalytic converters, and establish zero-emission vehicle programs. Other states, encouraged by California’s progress, began adopting similar measures under what’s known as Section 177 of the Clean Air Act.
