The Biden administration is racing to secure key climate policies before Donald Trump takes office, focusing on lasting changes in areas like Arctic drilling restrictions and California’s transition to electric vehicles.
Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The Biden administration finalized rules to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the habitat of the greater sage grouse, limiting drilling and mining.
- The Environmental Protection Agency aims to grant California a waiver to ban gasoline car sales by 2035 and restrict toxic chemicals like perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene.
- The Energy Department plans to release a study questioning the public interest of liquefied natural gas exports, which could be used to challenge future projects.
Key quote:
“This is by far the most significant rule in the United States setting the pace for vehicle electrification. It helps lock in the progress of the American automobile industry.”
— Craig Segall, senior vice president at the advocacy group Evergreen Action and former assistant chief counsel at the California Air Resources Board
Why this matters:
A rapid move to solidify these policies could establish enduring environmental protections despite potential rollbacks under a Trump administration. These actions could influence long-term trends in the U.S. energy and automotive industries and underscore the urgency of environmental issues.
