The Illinois Pollution Control Board (PCB) paused its consideration of a far-reaching rule to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus rules.

These rules would have:

• phased out the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-powered cars, pick-up trucks, work vans, and SUVs (passenger cars and light-duty trucks), leading to a complete ban on the sale of new non-electric vehicles in 2035 (with limited exceptions).
• reduced the sale of new traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered medium- and heavy-duty trucks (Class 2b through Class 8).
  • 55% of new Class 2b-3 truck sales would have to be electric by 2035.
  • 75% of new Class 4-8 straight truck sales would have to be electric by 2035.
  • 40% of new truck tractor sales would have to be electric by 2035.
• imposed sweeping new testing and emissions standards on new heavy-duty trucks.

The PCB’s stay is in response to Congress taking action and voting to repeal the federal waivers that granted California the authority to set independent vehicle emissions standards.

California has, in turn, sued the federal government, arguing that Congress lacked the power to repeal the federal waivers.

The PCB indicated it would stay the rulemaking until the case was resolved by the courts and specified in its order “that in issuing this stay, it is not taking a position on the merits of the proposed rulemaking.”

Earlier this year, NFIB testified at an Illinois Pollution Control Board hearing on the detrimental impacts this rulemaking would have on the small-business community.