When it comes to environmental policy, California has long been at the vanguard. Beginning with the Environmental Quality Act in 1970, the Golden State has taken conservation and management of its considerable outdoor treasures — such as these underrated state parks — seriously. From laws focusing on water and air quality to statues designed to protect the coastline and regulations on single-use plastics, California has made safeguarding the environment a priority, and continues to do so.
As part of a statewide push to hit zero emissions by 2035 and transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2045, California is aiming to reduce the considerable pollution caused by small, gas-powered engines by phasing out these devices by 2028. Found in leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and gas-fueled generators, just a single hour of running one of these small combustion engines can emit the same amount of smog-creating pollutants as a car driving 300 miles.
With gas generators on their way out in California, the future of RVing in state parks or off-the-grid sites may seem uncertain. These camping vehicles often depend on electricity, and while losing generators may seem like a blow to some, there are luckily some more environmentally-friendly, up-and-coming alternatives that will keep the juice flowing through your rig while lightly impacting your surroundings.
What To Know About The New Law
Legistlated and signed into law in October of 2021, California State Assembly Bill 1346 aims to end the sale of “small off road engines” (SOREs) in the state. Rather than banning the machines straight away, the new regulation sets emission standards through a number of steps, with gas-powered generators no longer sold starting in 2028. This gives people time to make adjustments…