New Leader of the Air Council of California while Trump is struggling with heating

From Alejandro LazoCalmness

This story was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

The California Air Resources Council receives a new leader at a major moment, as it is fighting the Trump administration in court and fighting the increasing control of Democrats and voters who question the cost of the state’s climate principles.

Lian Randolph chairs the Council of the Regulator of the Best Air Conditions of the State. It runs a number of policies, including remarkable rules for clean cars and trucks, a fuel standard with implications for gas prices and the state carbon trading program, restriction and trade. This week, governor Gavin Newo nominates his senior climate advisor Lauren Sanchez to replace her.

In an interview, Randolph told Calfatters that her departure was part of her “personal journey”, something she began to think about this year.

“I have worked very hard in the last almost five years and I am ready to rest,” she said. “I am confident that the transition will go incredibly smooth.”

Observers say that the show emphasizes the key role of the Air Council in the moment of political retreat and resistance of consumers.

“Almost all the main areas of the climate that (the Air Council) touch really significant periods of challenge,” says Danny Culunoud, climate expert and deputy chairman of an independent committee analyzing the restriction and trade program. “This is not an easy time to take over an agency. This is a time when a sound strategy is required – not just an autopilot.”

California’s climate ambition meets Trump’s opposition

The Newsom order for 2020 to terminate the sales of gas vehicles by 2035 was a time of a catchment area for California Climate Policy. His executive order was a strike for grabbing titles in the oil industry, which meant accelerating not only the acceptance of the electric cars of the state but also of the nation.

NEWSOM said Randolph would be the champion of this effort, as his choice to lead the Air Council only a few months later, calling it “a brave, innovative leader who will lead to our fight against climate change with justice and all California communities in the heart.”

But Randolph faced a more challenge than his predecessors: the Trump administration inclined to thwart California’s authority. The White House immediately criticized Newsom’s order as an example of how “the left -wing” has become, proof that liberal politicians want to “dictate every aspect of every American’s life.”

While Randolph’s Air Board has made a significant policy during the Biden Administration, Trump has attacked these efforts after returning to office.

“Lian did not have the time or the circumstances to focus on a new, adjusted strategy,” says Daniel Sperling, a former member of the Council, now Director of the Institute for Transport Research at UC Davis. “She inherited the trajectory to which California was, and that the governor was articulated, and then undermined by the Trump administration.”

For the prohibition of gasoline Marathon hearing Filled with car owners, environmentalists and industry lobbyists. In 2022, the Council approved the measure Newsom wanted. More rules were followed by diesel trucks, locomotives and other large pollutants.

Ethan Elkind, a climate right at UC Berkeley, said Randolph was leading the board over a difficult time.

In disputes related to environmental justice groups, he said, “She really listened to people,” building consensus and reducing tension.

“She’s always very diplomatic,” Elkind said. “She was mining, she was not polemical, she did not use it as a perch for pontification. She looked very measured and stable and took on her role as a public person and the need for work, very seriously.”

Policies aimed at zero emissions, vehicles fought as federal and state regulators have withdrawn the industry in opposite directions.

Bayden’s administration signed According to the rules of clean cars in California last year. But The State Air Board withdrew One of his most aggressive measures for diesel trucks, as well as rules for locomotives, port crafts and other pollutants, waiting for Trump’s return.

“There is no complete understanding of how aggressive the administration’s attacks on all California’s efforts to achieve climate,” Randolph said At an event of CalMatters in San FranciscoS She indicated the withdrawal of the Trump administration from a rule aimed at cleaning the pollution of the nitric oxide from trucks.

“It has nothing to do with electric vehicles,” Randolph said. “It was all that it simply attacks California’s authority and leaving the big companies that support the administration continued to pollute communities.”

Catherine Polpace-Boyd, senior adviser to the Western State Petroleum Association, said the ambition of California has outstripped consumers and technology in the term of Randolph’s term. Its retreat sounded a broader collision with the Trump administration, which is aimed at electric cars, expensive for consumers and impractical.

“We have no problem with electric vehicles,” said Purpace Boy at the San Francisco Calteters event. But “We think there should be a free market.”

Shock climate battles at home

Last November, the Air Council Renovated its standard with low carbon fuelA program that uses financial incentives to promote cleaner fuels as the state gradually discards gasoline and diesel.

The struggle set challenges to twins arising from the state: increasing costs and prolonged environmental damage not addressed by climate policy. Consumer defenders have raised gas prices alarms while environmentalists have warned that the increase in alternatives such as biofuels made of cow fertilizer Or soybeans offer limited climate benefits.

Phoebe Seaton, a leader of the leadership council for justice and accountability, said that her group “strongly disagrees” with the expansion of the standard fuel program, but credit Randolph’s management for displaying and listening to all countries.

“We are especially grateful for the time chairman, Randolph, dedicated to the Pixley and Fresno meeting with people affected by dairy products,” Seaton said.

Central Valley politicians criticized the program for the fact that fuels are less affordable. Member of the Jasmeet Bains Assembly, a Democrat from Bakersfield who is looking for Moderate Republican skill in CongressHe called for Randolph’s resignation earlier this year. She claims that the Air Council has failed to explore the economic impacts of its new standard. Her office did not respond to a CalMatters request for comment.

CullenWard said that the air advice did not always clearly say what its users programs cost. While Newsom and the legislature will expand restriction and trade, the Council still has to decide how to redesign the program after stopping working on it during the fight for re -authorization.

“One of the most difficult things in this process is that being really honest in what works – and what doesn’t work – and what are the cost of the different options will be essential,” said Culunner. “Historically, this is not something that employees have ever perceived.”

Newsom praised Randolph for entering during uncertainty and led with “vision and determination”. She will leave at the end of the month before the end of her term, which lasts until 2026.

Questions about costs, accessibility and environmental fears will continue to hang over the Air Council as it decides how to guide the cap and other programs in the coming years.

Randolph in his remarks on Wednesday said that California regulators should show creativity before federal attacks, while dealing with public problems and reporting why state policies matter.

“All climate change impacts make things radically inaccessible,” she said.

Newsom Point Point interferes

The replacement of Randolph, Lauren Sanchez, was the man of the Governor of the Climate from the Executive Service. Translating Newsom’s vision into state policy at a key turning point, while managing the 16-member council and managing the huge, high-technical staff of the agency, will present a new challenge.

Sanchez has built her climatic powers on the international scene and inside the governor’s office, where she helped to manage billions of funding for the budget for climate programs and advise Newsom on the energy package and air -conditioning and air -conditioning packages for this summer.

“He turned to the assistant he trusts most in the climate,” says Dean Flores, appointed to the State Senate in the Air Council. “Lauren is on his side, who prepares the book for play and runs the billions. This is not a change in the course, but to maintain faith with his own circle.”

Prior to joining Newsom’s office in 2021, Sanchez served as a climate negotiator at the US State Department and later advised John Carrie in the Biden administration. She also played senior roles in the California Environmental and Air Council, coordinating the climate policy in state agencies and shaping international climate work in California.

“Lauren was my most reliable climate advisor and the chief architect of California’s bold climate agenda,” Newsom said. “It is a power itself: her expertise, tenacity and vision will serve California, as the board works to protect our communities and protect our climate progress from ruthless attacks from Washington.”

Sanchez has played a central role in attracting climate priorities in the state budget in recent years, said Jamie Peu, a climate advisor in Netxgen policy. Cap-And Trade pays for a climate loan that consumers see in their utility bills; Pew said Sanchez advocated to expand the loan during recent legislative negotiations.

“Lauren is a champion to obtain restriction and investment this year, which will ensure that financing critical climate programs will continue to grow at a time when federal returns threaten the transition,” Pew said.

Next week, the best air and climate regulators of the state will vote for amendments that narrow a pre -expedited rule for public fleet trucks. The Council also progresses emergency regulation to retain its standards for clean cars and trucks that apply as the Council is fighting the federal government in court.

Many of the recent Air Council achievements have been obstructed this year. As expected, Trump quickly Moved into blocking California’s mandates assisted by Congress, signing three measures In June, against clean cars and two more aimed at diesel trucks.

Adrian Martinez, a lawyer at Earthjustice, said the California Air Force is facing dangerous times.

“All the breathing in California depends on it,” he said.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.