The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is evaluating additional measures to reduce emissions, including the potential expansion of indirect-source rules, a CARB deputy executive officer told state lawmakers at an Oct. 20 hearing. Christopher Grundler indicated that federal actions could result in California facing a "significant gap" in the emissions reductions required to achieve its environmental objectives.
Grundler informed lawmakers that CARB is actively assessing how indirect-source rules could be applied more broadly, moving beyond their current limited use in the heavy-duty sector. While this consideration was presented, Grundler did not provide a specific timeline for any potential rulemaking, offer draft language for new regulations, or announce a formal decision by the board to pursue these new rules. The remarks signal a possible regulatory response to federal changes, but any new indirect-source rules would require further action from the agency.
The discussion at the hearing also addressed previous reporting concerning alleged fraud within CARB’s heavy-duty incentive program. Grundler defended the program’s existing safeguards, stating that 93% of the vehicles supported through the initiative were produced by firms that remain healthy businesses. The record from the hearing, which was reviewed for this story, did not include specific underlying reporting, complaint, audit, or investigative documents related to these allegations. Consequently, the allegations themselves have not been independently established by the hearing record.
CARB’s testimony at the hearing reported that its heavy-duty incentive program has provided funding for more than 16,000 clean heavy-duty trucks, with most of these vehicles being electric. According to the agency, these trucks have collectively traveled more than 340 million miles. It was noted that these figures, along with the agency’s characterization of its oversight, constitute statements made during the hearing and do not represent findings from an independent audit of the program.
The potential expansion of indirect-source rules represents a significant policy consideration for CARB as it navigates the implications of federal actions on California’s emission targets. Indirect-source rules typically regulate emissions from facilities or projects that attract mobile sources of pollution, such as large distribution centers or transportation hubs, by requiring mitigation measures. While such rules exist in a limited capacity within the heavy-duty sector, their broader application could affect a wider range of activities and businesses across the state, including potentially those in the Yuba-Sutter area.
The specific details regarding CARB’s next steps for any potential new indirect-source rules remain undefined. The legal basis for such rules, the particular sources that would be affected, and the timing of any implementation were not specified during the hearing. The agency’s ongoing evaluation reflects its commitment to meeting emissions reduction goals even as it anticipates potential challenges posed by federal policy shifts. For any new rules to take effect, further actions and deliberations by CARB would be necessary. The public record from the hearing provides insight into the agency’s strategic thinking but leaves many specifics for future consideration.