By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency restored Wednesday California’s right to establish its own zero-emission vehicle sales mandate. It also set tailpipe emission limits. This reverses a decision made by President Donald Trump in 2019.

It said that it had made a final decision regarding a request to have the Clear Air Act waiver to California, which was originally granted in 2013, reinstituted.

“With today’s action, we reinstate an approach that for years has helped advance clean technologies and cut air pollution for people not just in California, but for the U.S. as a whole,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.

EPA also rejected a Trump-era order to prevent other states adopting California’s tailpipe emissions standards.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the move remedies the Trump administration’s “groundless ​attack on a critical program that is based on California’s decades ​of experience setting emissions standards as authorized by law.”

California Air Resources Board announced Tuesday that it will significantly increase the demand for electric vehicles in 2030, as part of its plan to eliminate gasoline-powered light duty cars by 2035.

Joe Biden, President of the United States has established a goal for 50% of new car sales to be either electric or plug-in-electric. However, Biden did not endorse a timetable for the elimination of gasoline-vehicle purchases.

California’s regulator claimed that 61% of its new sales would be made as zero emission vehicles in a December draft. According to Reuters, a revised proposal is currently under review by staff and would target 68% of new zero-emission vehicles in 2030, 76% 2031, or 100% 2035.