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Smog over Los Angeles. Photo: Steven Buss on Flickr

Republicans have used the Congressional Review Act to roll back California’s states’ right to protect its own residents’ lungs and pocketbooks with better pollution rules.

But here’s the thing: Congress doesn’t have that authority because that’s not how the Congressional Review Act works, so the republican party is once again just letting everyone know that it wants to poison Americans and raise their fuel costs, no matter the legality of doing so.

Update, June 12: Mr. Donald Trump has now placed his childish chickenscratch onto the illegal resolution, setting up yet another legal fight with California.

We’ve heard plenty of stories recently about how the senile felon squatting in the White House wants to harm Americans. But in the last hundred-and-some days of the exact kind of incompetent flailing that anyone with half a brain expected out of him, relatively less attention has been paid to the attempts of republicans in Congress to poison Americans.

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Well, they decided to jump into the spotlight and remind everyone just how bad the entire party is, as republicans in Congress passed a bill to increase pollution and fuel costs for California and 11 other states.

Both the House and Senate narrowly passed the resolutions, led by republicans and with only a smattering of Democratic votes – including Sen. Slotkin of Michigan, who voted for the measure despite the harm it will bring to the auto industry that is so important in her state which will be made less relevant globally as it retreats in the face of rising competition from China; and Reps. Whitesides and Correa of California, both of whom who voted to harm their own state and restrict its freedoms, and who represent areas around LA, which suffers from high pollution.

Then the bill today reached the desk of a convicted felon who is Constitutionally barred from holding office in the US, where he marked it with his chicken-scratch, as he promised the oil industry he would do in exchange for a billion dollars in bribes (which he only received a fraction of).

How republicans are attacking clean air this time

The measure came in the form of three Congressional Review Act (CRA) actions withdrawing three of California’s “waivers” from the EPA, even though the CRA does not apply to the waivers.

For more than half a century, California has asked for and been granted this waiver that allows it to set its own emissions rules. Other states can follow California’s rules (and around 11 states do so, though that amount differs for each rule), as long as they do so exactly, and as long as those rules are stronger than the national ones.

It has this unique authority because California had its own Clean Air Act before the federal Clean Air Act was passed, and because the state had a unique problem with smog at the time and needed stricter rules than the rest of the country. So a carveout was made in the federal law in recognition of this.

California’s clean air laws have been effective in reducing pollution, with vehicle-based pollutants dropping by 98% in the last 50 years. But of course, there’s still more to be done, as the LA area remains one of the smoggiest in the country due to factors including geography, high car dependency, heavy shipping traffic, and a lack of public transitt.

Despite the protestations of industry at the time and since, these rules have not made it impossible for them to operate, or sell cars, or profit from selling cars, in California or any other states that follow its rules.

California’s newest set of rules would save Californians, and the residents of other states who follow them, hundreds of billions of dollars on health, fuel, and maintenance costs through 2050 by encouraging electrification – and of course will save thousands of lives due to pollution reductions. Republicans targeted not just California’s regulation on light duty vehicles (ACC II), but also some other truck emissions rules (the ACT and HD low-NOx Omnibus rules).

So, the republicans have declared they want to end California’s progress in protecting its own residents, and the restidents of 11 other states. Despite the massive improvement in health and air quality, and reduction in health costs as a result, republicans are once again making it clear that they favor poisoning Americans, so much so that they’ll even try illegal actions to do it.

The CRA can’t be used this way, and republicans know it

The problem with using the Congressional Review Act in this situation is that it is doubly illegal to do. The CRA gives Congress the authority to roll back government agency actions, like those of the EPA, but it has been rarely used since its passing, since doing so results in a dysfunctional government and an unpredictable business environment.

But the CRA has a time limit, and Congress must act to reverse these rules within 60 days. The EPA approved California’s waiver on December 18, 2024, which is more than 60 days ago; therefore, we are past the deadline where the CRA can be used.

Further, even if it were within 60 days, the CRA can’t be used to reject California’s waiver, because it isn’t a “rule.” The CRA only allows Congress to change “rules,” and the waiver isn’t a rule itself; it’s just EPA telling California that it can set its own rules. Both the Senate Parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office (the real government office that holds government to account, unlike Elon Musk’s fake and redundant “Department of Government Efficiency” advisory board), along with many, many others have recognized that this is the case, and Congress knows it. But hey, at least they have the oil companies on their side.

So, Congress’ action here is illegal, and doubly so, because the waiver is not a rule, and it is outside of the 60 day window. This action is also dangerous to your health, exacerbates climate change, and will raise Americans’ fuel costs and cede ground to China in the changing global auto industry.

Notably, at least one republican Senator, Mike Lee of Utah, correctly acknowledged that this is an illegal action, stating clearly that “California’s CAA federal preemption waivers cannot be reviewed under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) because the waiver granted by EPA is not a rule as that term is defined in the CRA.” However, regardless of publicly acknowledging that this cannot be done in a document that is still up on his own website, Lee still voted for it anyway.

Despite illegality, republicans still agitate for dirty air

They know that this method of revocation has no legal backing – but it still went through with it anyway, impotently screaming from the rafters “WE WANT TO KILL YOU!!!”… which apparently some people still need to hear.

But if republicans know this is illegal, why did they do it? There are likely a number of reasons:

  • To avoid the filibuster, which would give Democrats a chance to stand up for clean air, and which is not allowed for CRA actions (at least, within the 60 day window… which we are outside of, so that’s another way republicans are acting illegally).
  • To avoid having to amend or repeal the Clean Air Act, which would likely raise more eyebrows from the few republican voters with any remaining rationality or self-interest. This action is harder to understand and therefore more likely to go under the radar.
  • To show to their oil donors that they are aligned in their mission to harm life on earth.
  • Likely as another meaningless entry into the republican culture war, where the party starts ridiculous fights over nothing in order to stop or distract from positive motion on changes that might help alleviate some of the plight republicans are constantly trying to force on Americans.
  • Because they’ve packed the courts with enough partisan operatives who are willing to ignore the law that they think this has a chance of still going through.

California pledges response to protect clean air

California already announced that it will respond with legal action – but despite that republicans’ action here is illegal, the CRA also claims that it is not subject to judicial review, which is a violation of the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution.

California could alternately seek to achieve the same goals through other measures that have no Congressional oversight, such as charging higher registration fees for gasoline-powered vehicles (something which many states, including California, already stupidly do against electric cars, at the behest of, once again, the oil industry – and yes, republicans want to do this federally, too).

To this end, it has already formed a coalition with 11 other states to expand clean cars in the face of these attacks.

For its part, the California Air Resources Board, the organization responsible for California’s regulations, said “CARB will continue its mission to protect the public health of Californians impacted by harmful air pollution” after the House’s initial CRA vote. So, we hope that CARB will continue to act within the law, and ignore Congress’ violent action opposing clean air.

And California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted, stating “This Senate vote is illegal. Republicans went around their own parliamentarian to defy decades of precedent. We won’t stand by as Trump Republicans make America smoggy again — undoing work that goes back to the days of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan — all while ceding our economic future to China.“

Who even supports this? Polluters, of course

Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, scientists, environmental groups, many businesses, and the vast majority of people who have lungs generally support the strongest regulation possible.

More than 100 clean air groups sent a letter supporting the waiver in the face of republican attacks on your health… and another one led by the American Lung Association, and another one led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, and another one led by the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards. But who listens to those idiots when there’s oil donor money at stake?

A few of the usual suspects did step in to show their support for this attack. The auto lobbyist that represents virtually every car company, which calls itself the “Alliance for Automotive Innovation” despite routinely opposing electrification efforts, came out in favor of ending these clean air rules. This is despite the weasel who runs the organization, John Bozzella, appearing on stage to give a speech when the EPA implemented rules with similar goals on a national level.

Bozzella has long stated that he thinks California and the EPA should have the same set of rules – but his organization is the one that originally lobbied Mr. Trump, during his first period squatting in the White House, to shatter the single national standard that had been set up under President Obama, opening this Pandora’s Box to begin with. And in case you need a reminder, California ended up winning that fight, which somebody predicted well ahead of time.

And don’t forget: the Alliance Against Automotive Innovation’s opposition to EVs will signal the final nail in the coffin for the US auto industry. China is getting great at building EVs, to the point that other nations are desperately trying to put up barriers to stop them. But those barriers haven’t worked, and they won’t work. The only thing that will work is getting more serious about EVs, and trying to stop EVs from flourishing ain’t it.

The dealer lobby, NADA, also reached out to us to let us know that they support this legislation that will kill Americans and cost them money. They apparently appreciate Congress’ attempt to reduce Americans’ choice to breathe clean air, and to force death and sickness upon them.

And, of course, the oil industry, responsible for untold death and destruction, has also arranged itself on the side of this illegal action to poison Americans and raise their fuel costs, alongside republicans in Congress. What a surprise.

We, at least, know what side we’re on.

Another thing republicans are trying to kill is the the rooftop solar credit, which means you could have only until the end of this year to install rooftop solar on your home before the cost of doing so goes up by an average of ~$10,000. So if you want to go solar, get started now, because these things take time and the system needs to be active before you file for the credit.

To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – ad*

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Volvo CEO: electric wave will kill a few Western automakers – which ones?

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30 mins ago

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September 11, 2025

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Volvo CEO: electric wave will kill a few Western automakers - which ones?

First-Volvo-ES90-EV

Volvo’s long-time CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, is returning to help the brand and openly admits that the rapid electrification of the auto industry will result in a few Western automotive brands going out of business.

Samuelsson led Volvo from 2012 to 2022, when he retired on top after a successful public offering.

However, Volvo’s stock has been sliding since his exit, and he recently accepted a 2-year contract to lead Volvo again as the company tries to find a permanent new leader.

He gave an interview with Bloomberg this week, in which he stated that Volvo remains firmly committed to electrification despite some pullbacks.

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Samuelsson doesn’t mince his words. He understands that the EV transition is difficult on the industry and China’s forceful push toward electrification at a global scale is putting pressure on Western automakers.

He believes that the industry will be fully electric in about 10 years and that some brands won’t survive the transition:

The industry will be electric — there’s no turning back. It may take a bit longer in some regions, but the direction is clear. In (about) 10 years, cars will all be electric and they will be lower cost.

There will be new dominant players, exactly as Ford, GM, Toyota and Volkswagen were in the old world. In the new world, there will be two or three very strong Chinese brands. That makes the room for the old ones tougher. So this will trigger a (wave of) restructuring. Some companies will adapt to new circumstances and survive. Others will not.

He didn’t specify which ones he thinks will not survive, but he is hopeful Volvo will be among those that will remain.

The CEO is also encouraged by the connection with Geely, which has been making great progress in electrification and owns a majority stake in the Swedish automaker.

However, the connection is also causing Volvo some issues, as they have been threatened with a sales ban in the US due to their Chinese ownership.

Electrek’s Take

I think he is right. I’ve been saying it for years, but this is the kind of disruption that companies don’t survive.

It is a huge industry and it moves slowly, especially for some legacy automakers. When you have new startups, such as Tesla and Rivian, which are more nimble, it is genuinely disruptive.

And now that Chinese companies, with their incredible manufacturing pace, are getting involved, as seen with BYD and Xiaomi, it is putting a lot of pressure on existing players.

However, it’s still not clear which ones will and won’t survive.

I’d love to know your best guests of who you think won’t survive the EV transition in the comment section below.


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Hyundai is now delaying its EV battery plant that was raided by ICE

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3 hours ago

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September 11, 2025

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Hyundai is now delaying its EV battery plant that was raided by ICE

Hyundai-delaying-EV-battery-plant

Construction on Hyundai’s electric vehicle battery site that was raided by ICE last week is now facing more setbacks. Hyundai is delaying work at the EV battery plant as the detained workers are expected to fly home on Thursday.

Hyundai is delaying its EV battery plant raided by ICE

During an interview on Thursday, Hyundai’s CEO José Muñoz announced the site will be delayed by at least a few months following the raid.

“This is going to give us minimum two to three months delay, because now all these people want to get back,” he said. Hyundai needs to fill the positions, and as Muñoz explained, “for the most part, those people are not in the US.”

The sudden announcement comes after federal agents raided the battery plant site on September 4, detaining 475 workers.

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Hyundai co-owns the plant with LG Energy Solutions, which is set to supply batteries to its nearby production site, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA).

Although a charter plane is waiting in Atlanta to fly the workers home, the raid is already sparking backlash. South Korean ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong warned that “The economic activities of our companies investing in the US and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated.”

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided-ICE
Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America EV plant (Source: Peter Johnson/ Electrek)

The raid occurred just days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with President Trump at the White House, pledging to invest another $150 billion in the US, including a new EV battery plant.

However, after videos and images showed the detained workers shackled before being transferred onto buses, the operation is fueling outrage among South Koreans and will likely have bigger economic implications.

Hyundai-EV-battery-plant-raid
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai and LG’s battery plant is just one of 20 sites under construction in the US by a South Korean company. Several LG Energy Solutions’ construction sites have already been disrupted, while others fear similar crackdowns may follow.

Hyundai currently builds the new IONIQ 5 and larger IONIQ 9 electric SUVs at the production plant. The site in total spans about 3,000 acres, including the assembly facility, EV battery plants, and various other parts plants.

Electrek’s Take

The raid on Hyundai’s plant was frankly an embarrassment and will likely have much bigger impacts. Hyundai pledged to invest $12.6 billion in Georgia, creating 8,500 new jobs, marking the state’s largest economic project to date.

A Center for Automotive Research report found that Hyundai’s EV plant would generate over 50,000 new jobs indirectly, including suppliers and joint battery ventures.

Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to arrest and deport as many “illegal” immigrants as possible, but he also wants to bring manufacturing back to the US.

The Hyundai plant raid is just another setback for the US auto industry. It has put thousands of new jobs and billions in investments at risk. It ultimately puts the US further behind China, South Korea, and others who are quickly emerging as powerhouses with advanced new batteries, software, and other EV tech.

Trump’s raid on the Hyundai plant could give a new meaning to the “Trump Slump” as fear spreads over similar crackdowns.

Source: Bloomberg


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Bluetti’s new Apex 300 station + bundles get up to $2,377 in exclusive savings, Lectric Endless Summer e-bike Sale, Aiper, more

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September 11, 2025

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Bluetti's new Apex 300 station + bundles get up to ,377 in exclusive savings, Lectric Endless Summer e-bike Sale, Aiper, more

We have exclusive discounts leading today’s Green Deals, with up to $2,377 savings available for our readers on Bluetti’s new Apex 300 Portable Power Station and its bundles starting from $1,529. We also have Lectric’s Endless Summer Sale that is taking up to $720 off its e-bike bundles, like the largest package to date on the brand’s XPress 750 Long-Range Commuter e-bikes that are getting $424 in FREE gear at $1,299, among all the other models. From there, we’ve got Aiper’s latest IrriSense Smart Sprinkler Irrigation System back at a second-ever $500 low, as well as a new low price on a Greenworks commercial-grade chainsaw, a compact Solo Stove fire pit, and two one-day only tool deals waiting for you below. Plus, there are all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Anker SOLIX Fan Fest Sale – now with bonus 5% savings – and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Save up to an exclusive $2,377 on Bluetti’s new expansive Apex 300 power station and bundles starting from $1,529

Bluetti is having an Anniversary Power Week Sale that is taking up to 53% off power stations, but it’s getting all the better for our readers who want to score the brand’s new Apex 300 power station or its bundles thanks to exclusive codes we’ve been provided. Things start with Bluetti’s base Apex 300 Portable Power Station at $1,529.10 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5TOYS10F at checkout. This all-new backup solution only just hit the market last month with a $2,399 full price, which we saw dropped to $1,599 in launch savings, which dropped lower to $1,439 with exclusive discounts. It’s starting off this sale at $1,699, with the exclusive code providing $870 in total savings to land it at the second-best price we have tracked, if you missed out on the lower launch deals. Head below to learn more about this new model and browse the entire lineup of deals we’re seeing in this sale.

Before I go over the Bluetti Apex 300 station’s capabilities, I wanted to point out the bonus promotions we’re seeing during this sale. For this new model and its bundles below, members will score 3x Bluetti Bucks that can be used later to gain additional discounts and rewards. The entire sale also has some free gifts once your order reaches certain pricing thresholds, with $2,000 to $2,999 orders getting a free K5 Power Bank, $3,000 to $3,999 orders getting a free Handsfree 1 power station, and $4,000+ orders get a free Handsfree 2 power station.

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The new Bluetti Apex 300 power station is a beast of a backup power companion, starting with its 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4 capacity (which is rated for a 17-year lifespan by the brand) that can be expanded with further investments up to a monstrous 58kWh. It provides some serious output power too, starting at up to a steady 3,840W that surges to 7,680W and can expand with your setup to provide up to 11.52kW. What’s more, it has quite the UPS switchover time of 0ms whenever power goes out and you have devices/appliances/more connected.

It boasts a robust array of 13 output ports to cover your device/appliance connection needs, as well as the usual in-app smart controls you’d expect. Not only does it support passthrough charging (with a particular focus on generators), but it comes with a solid lineup of recharging methods for its own battery. You can plug it into a standard AC outlet, which can have it to 80% in 45 minutes with its Turbo mode activated, as well as use your car’s auxiliary port, connect a generator, or reach up to its max 2,400W solar input.

***Note: Make sure to use the exclusive code 9TO5TOYS10F at checkout to score these prices.

Bluetti’s Power Week Apex 300 power station deals:

You can browse the entire Bluetti Anniversary Power Week Sale on its main landing page here.

woman standing next to Lectric XPress 750 commuter e-bike

Lectric’s Endless Summer Sale offers $424 in FREE gear with the 60-mile XPress 750 commuter e-bikes at $1,299, more

Lectric has launched its Endless Summer Sale that is offering up to $720 in savings on its lineup of e-bike bundles, which includes the ongoing $500 price cut on the ONE Premium commuter e-bike. Among the group, we spotted a notably large bundle being given to Lectric’s XPress 750 Long-Range Commuter e-bikes that are getting $424 in FREE gear at $1,299 shipped, in both its step-thru and step-over designs. This package would normally run you $1,723 without the bundle savings, which beats out all the bundles we’ve seen before that only ever amounted up to $410 in gear. Along with the e-bike (which is one of my favorite commuters over the years), you’ll be getting a rear cargo rack, fenders to go over both tires, an Elite headlight upgrade, a suspension seat post, two adjustable rear-view mirrors, and an accordion-style folding bike lock. Head below for more on this e-bike’s capabilities and the other deals we’re seeing while the sale lasts.

If you want to learn more about this e-bikes capabilities, or check out the full lineup of e-bike deals, be sure to check out our full coverage of this sale here.

aiper's irrisense smart irrigation system spraying water across yard with house in background

Aiper’s IrriSense smart irrigation system brings far-reaching, app-controlled functionality to your yard at its $500 low

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Aiper is offering a second chance to pick up its latest IrriSense Smart Sprinkler Irrigation System for $499.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $200 off coupon, which matches the price we’re seeing directly from the brand’s website. It’s only been on the market since May, with it normally going for $700 outside of discounts, of which things have mostly dropped down to $600, except for the first-time fall to $500 we saw mid-August. Now that low price is coming back for round two, as $200 is cut from the tag for the best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this new device’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

greenworks 82V 16-inch cordless chainsaw sitting on freshly cut tree trunk

Save $202 on commercial-grade cutting power with Greenworks’ 82V 16-inch cordless chainsaw at a new $198 low

Amazon is now offering the best price yet on the Greenworks 82V Commercial-Grade 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw with a 4.0Ah battery and dual-port rapid charger at $198.11 shipped. This newer model has only been on the market since February and ranges between $300 and $400 on average, with regular periods spent down at the former. While there have been a few discounts under that rate, we’ve recently seen it cascading down in price since late August, with the 50% markdown here cutting $202 off the tag for the best new price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this electric chainsaw, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

two women sit chatting with coffee mugs around solo stove's mesa XL fire pit

Enhance at-home or campsite outdoor gatherings with Solo Stove’s Mesa XL tabletop fire pit at $76

Through its official Amazon storefront, Solo Stove is offering its Mesa XL Tabletop Fire Pit for $76.40 shipped. This compact model usually runs for $120 outside of discounts, which we’ve mostly seen keeping the costs between $80 and $96 throughout the year, save for the one-time drop to the $76 low that popped up for a short period in late August. It’s coming in today within $1 of that low price, with the deal here cutting $44 off the tag for the next-best rate we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this compact fire pit, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man cutting tree branch with worx nitro 20V mini chainsaw

Make up to 160 cuts with Worx’s Nitro 20V 5-inch mini chainsaw at its $100 annual low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Worx Nitro 20V 5-inch Cordless Mini Chainsaw at $99.99 shipped, which beats out the current Amazon pricing by $48. This handy tool would normally run you $150 at full price, which we’ve mostly seen dropping to $109, with occasional dips lower to $100 and the $99 low. While we haven’t seen that low price again since Christmas sales, you’re looking at the next-best rate here for the rest of the day only, cutting $50 off the tag to land $1 above that low.

If you want to learn more about this mini chainsaw, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

man cleaning edges of driveway with greenworks 80V 17-inch string trimmer

For the rest of the day snag Greenworks’ 80V 17-inch cordless string trimmer at $180

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 80V 17-inch Cordless String Trimmer with 2.0Ah battery at $179.99 shipped, which you’ll only find in a renewed condition directly from the brand’s website right now, matching the price of this brand-new model, while it’s unavailable on Amazon. It normally goes for $250 at full price, which has mostly been taken down to this same rate, save for the one-time fall to its $171 low we spotted at the top of August. You’re getting the next-best price here for the rest of the day though, which saves you $70 and lands just $9 higher than its lowest tracked rate.

If you want to learn more about this string trimmer, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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