Bipartisan Group Responds To Governor
Maine recently rejected a proposal that would mandate the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state, dealing a blow to climate activists. The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) rejected the proposed Advanced Clean Cars program after overwhelming opposition from locals. The policy would have required EVs to make up more than 80 percent of new car sales by 2032. However, the majority of residents expressed concerns about the feasibility and affordability of the mandate.
Opponents of the proposal highlighted the potential economic burden and limitations of Maine’s rural economy and geography. Maine Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart noted that cold weather can significantly affect the performance of EVs, making them unreliable for residents in the state’s extreme winters. He also expressed concerns about the lack of charging infrastructure in rural areas, making it challenging for residents to even consider purchasing an EV.
Affordable transportation is a requirement, not a luxury, in rural Maine.
Regulations must recognize reality: California-style emissions standards would impose logistic and financial hurdles that Maine isn’t ready to clear. The state BEP made the right decision to reject them.
— Congressman Jared Golden (@RepGolden) March 20, 2024
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection received nearly 1,800 comments from the public, with a staggering 84 percent of them expressing disapproval of the EV mandate. Republican Representative Jack Ducharme stated that many Mainers would love to drive environmentally friendly vehicles but simply cannot afford them. He added that mandating the sale of EVs would not change this reality and only further burden residents.
Even Democratic State Representative Jared Golden, who supports climate action, opposed the mandate, raising concerns about the practicality and affordability for rural residents. He stated that access to affordable transportation is a necessity rather than a luxury in rural Maine and that regulations must consider this reality. He applauded the BEP’s decision to reject the proposed mandate.
The rejection of the EV mandate is a major setback for Maine’s Democratic Governor, Janet Mills, who has made tackling the “climate crisis” a top priority. However, with such overwhelming opposition from residents and political leaders, it seems that the proposed mandate was not a viable solution for the state. This rejection also deals a significant blow to the wider EV industry, which has experienced a downturn in the past year.
We must, and we will, continue to address climate change in the long-term, for the health of our people, the health of our environment, and the health of our economy.
— Governor Janet Mills (@GovJanetMills) January 31, 2024
Several mainstream media outlets, including CNBC and The New York Times, have recently reported on the decreasing hype around EVs. CNBC acknowledged that “EV euphoria is dead” and that many automakers are scaling back their plans for electric vehicles. Similarly, The New York Times reported that the Biden administration was giving up on ambitious EV production targets, realizing they were both unrealistic and politically unpopular.
The rejection of the EV mandate in Maine reflects a growing concern among Americans about the practicality and affordability of transitioning to electric vehicles. It also suggests that state governments are more attuned to the challenges and limitations of such mandates, particularly in rural areas. As the conversation around climate action and EVs continues, it is clear that there needs to be a more balanced and realistic approach that considers the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.