Take that, Bush!

California officials who wrangled for years with the Bush administration were finally able to establish rules that require new emissions standards for auto manufacturers.

The Obama administration has given the Golden State the right to help mitigate automotive greenhouse gases, which makes the nation’s most populous state the leader in the fight against climate change.

Officially announced earlier this month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the ruling is being heralded by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and environmentalists.

The EPA’s decision comes after a two-year court battle with California, 13 other states, and many conservation organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity.