The California state Capitol in Sacramento, pictured in 2024, is home to a government that operates with levels of economic, regulatory and moral autonomy that rival sovereign nations.

California independence is not a crazy idea.

California independence is an everyday reality.

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And it’s working beautifully.

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Just look at recent history. For decades, California has operated with levels of economic, regulatory and moral autonomy that rival sovereign nations.

That autonomy is most visible on environmental matters. California has protections for endangered species and the coast that exceed American law. California has capitalized on waivers from the federal Clean Air Act — which allowed it to set tougher emissions standards to fight smog — to build its own highly skilled regulatory agencies.

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The results are stunning. While the U.S. doubles down on coal, oil and gas, California’s power grid is increasingly powered by wind, solar and battery storage. Electric cars have proliferated, and greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 were met.

California’s independence raises global standards. The state’s climate rules have touched off similar planning in subnational and local governments worldwide. California has forged its own foreign policy, clinching treaties to boost trade and investment with China, Canada, Mexico and........

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