The current fire weather conditions in California pose an imminent threat to the health and safety of Californians through on-going wildfires. Utility customers who have lost power may want to use a portable generator to power critical equipment, such as medical devices and refrigerators. In California, every portable generator rated at or below 19 kilowatts must be certified to California emission standards in order to be legally sold. [1]
“However, in some areas, there is currently a shortage of California certified portable generators available for sale due to the increased demand resulting from on-going wildfires. During this emergency, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will exercise maximum discretion with regard to the sale and use of new generators less than 19 kilowatts in size by temporarily allowing (through June 30, 2025) the import, distribution, sale, and offer for sale of U.S. EPA certified generators,” CARB said over the weekend.
“Consumers should take precautions when operating generators, following all manufacturer guidelines. Only enough fuel for immediate use should be added to the generator’s tank; when not in use, the generator never should be stored with fuel in the tank,” CARB said.
The CARB rule relaxation is conditional based on:
- Manufacturers [2] must send a letter to CARB indicating their desire to take advantage of this advisory by (a) indicating the current make(s) and model(s) of California-certified portable generators that sold out, (b) identifying the intended replacement products that are certified to federal emissions standards, and (c) describing their production plan to increase production more rapidly to address future supply shortfalls.
- Manufacturers shall report to CARB by July 31, 2025, how many U.S. EPA certified generators, by make and model as identified in the letter above, that they distributed or sold. The Excel template found here may be used for reporting. Alternatively, a manufacturer may use its own reporting format so long as all information listed in the template is included. Letters and reports must be emailed to generators@arb.ca.gov.
- Manufacturers must notify wholesalers, distributors, and retailers that the engines are allowed for sale in California only through June 30, 2025.
- Distributors and wholesalers shall keep records of the affected generators they distributed or sold, by make and model, and shall make these records available upon request to CARB.
- Retailers shall keep records of the affected generators they sold, both online and in-store, by retailer, and by make and model, and make these records available upon request to CARB.
- Manufacturers that do not already have California certification(s) for model-years 2023, 2024, and/or 2025 generators are prohibited from selling U.S. EPA certified generators in California. Likewise, if California certified generators become available to a manufacturer, those must be sold prior to offering a U.S. EPA certified generator.
“Beginning July 1, 2025, any generator being offered for sale, or sold without California certification will be treated as a violation subject to penalties per CARB’s Enforcement Policy,” CARB said.
Inevitable Portable Generator Footnotes
[1] 13 CCR 2400(a)(2), 13 CCR 2401(a)(39), 13 CCR (2751(a).
[2] The term manufacturer means “generator-set manufacturer.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
CARB Eases Portable Generator Rules Because of Wildfires
The current fire weather conditions in California pose an imminent threat to the health and safety of Californians through on-going wildfires. Utility customers who have lost power may want to use a portable generator to power critical equipment, such as medical devices and refrigerators. In California, every portable generator rated at or below 19 kilowatts must be certified to California emission standards in order to be legally sold. [1]
“However, in some areas, there is currently a shortage of California certified portable generators available for sale due to the increased demand resulting from on-going wildfires. During this emergency, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will exercise maximum discretion with regard to the sale and use of new generators less than 19 kilowatts in size by temporarily allowing (through June 30, 2025) the import, distribution, sale, and offer for sale of U.S. EPA certified generators,” CARB said over the weekend.
“Consumers should take precautions when operating generators, following all manufacturer guidelines. Only enough fuel for immediate use should be added to the generator’s tank; when not in use, the generator never should be stored with fuel in the tank,” CARB said.
The CARB rule relaxation is conditional based on:
“Beginning July 1, 2025, any generator being offered for sale, or sold without California certification will be treated as a violation subject to penalties per CARB’s Enforcement Policy,” CARB said.
Inevitable Portable Generator Footnotes
[1] 13 CCR 2400(a)(2), 13 CCR 2401(a)(39), 13 CCR (2751(a).
[2] The term manufacturer means “generator-set manufacturer.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.