Steve Hilton vows to fire California energy bosses behind tire regulations

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton promised to wipe out the agency behind California’s controversial new tire rules aimed at lowering emissions — blasting what he called an bloated “bureaucracy” that is only driving up the cost of living.

“When I am in office, we are going to have affordable, reliable energy in California that is as green as we can possibly make it. That’s what’s going to happen,” Hilton said at a Sacramento press conference Thursday steps away from the California Energy Commission.

“Instead of what they’re doing now, which is fake green energy that’s gouging every California family and business.”

The rules, approved Monday by the commission, will phase out replacement tires that fail to meet the state’s new energy-efficiency standards.

The commission and Democrats claim the more efficient, lower-resistance tires will translate to cars using less gas or electricity from better mileage, therefore saving consumers money.

The rules target “rolling resistance,” which refers to how much energy it takes to keep a tire moving down the road.

Hilton, however, echoed critics of the ban who say it’ll increase costs by wiping out most of the tire market.

Tire industry critics claim actual price increases for tires could reach several hundred dollars as the industry scrambles to replace roughly 70% of replacement tires currently on the market by 2029, when the rules go into effect.

According to the Tire Industry Association, average tire prices could increase from $81 to as much as $157. For a full set of four tires, the difference could exceed $300 per vehicle.

Hilton said his first step would be targeted at one individual: Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner, who reportedly was a driving force behind the tire rules.

Skinner is listed as the agency board’s engineer/scientist member.

“We are going to fire the tyrant Nancy Skinner!” Hilton said. “Nancy Skinner is a political hack. She has no business in that seat.”

Skinner, who was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, previously was a Democratic state senator representing Berkeley who helped craft pro-environment legislation. The California Post reached out to Skinner for comment.

Skinner, who has held academic positions around energy and sustainability, had defended the rules as an affordability tool.

“If we can bring each Californian’s gas cost down just a little bit, then why wouldn’t we?” she had told KCRA.

Hilton, however, said he wouldn’t stop on Skinner if elected; he promised to “shut down” the Energy Commission.

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“We have more regulators and bureaucrats on energy and electricity in California than any other state,” said Hilton, who noted the California Air Resources Board and Public Utilities Commission are other state agencies that also regulate around the issue.

“Enough with all this bureaucracy. We are going to shut it down,” he said.

Such a pitch, however, would likely get pushback from the Democrat-controlled state legislature. Hilton claimed he would “defund” the commission by line-item vetoing the agency’s funding in any state budget.

Still, Democratic lawmakers could override that veto.

“Let them make the case for this outrageous waste of money bureaucracy, and let them justify it,” Hilton said. “I’d love to see them try.”

The candidate said he understood the need for sensible regulations around energy, but argued California has gone too far.

“They’ll play every trick in the book to try and stop me bringing common sense to our government and to save money,” Hilton said. “We’ll be prepared. We’ll win because we are right, and the people have had enough of all this nonsense.”

The California Energy Commission told The Post that it will not comment on the governor’s race.

Newsom, for his part, trumpeted estimates by the California Energy Commission that the rules will save drivers nearly $1 billion per year in fuel and electricity costs. Newsom insisted the rules would not only save money but reduce emissions.

“The ROI is pretty good,” Newsom said at a press conference Wednesday.

The Post reached out to Hilton’s rival, Democrat candidate Xavier Becerra, for his thoughts on the high-resistance tire ban.