Maine is soon to join California in the adoption of stringent mandates requiring a hefty percentage of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the near future.
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (Maine BEP) voted 4-2 earlier today in favor of adopting California’s Advanced Clear Car Program, requiring that 43% of new cars sold in Maine be ZEVs by model year 2027 and 82% by model year 2032.
Rejected by the Maine BEP, however, was California’s Advanced Clean Truck Program — a set of rules that would have meant that anywhere from 40% to 75% of new medium- and heavy-duty truck sales would need to be ZEVs by model year 2035 dependent upon the vehicle’s class.
According to the Portland Press Herald, members of the Board indicated opposition to the requirements for truck sales for several reasons, including: (1) Maine lacks an adequate number of charging stations, (2) the costs of electric-powered trucks are unrealistically high, and (3) the program would not cut emissions at a high enough rate compared to existing federal regulations to make it worthwhile.
Consideration of these California-style proposals was initiated by two citizens petitions submitted to the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
According to Maine law, anyone can ask a state agency to adopt or change a rule so long as they are able to submit a petition signed by 150-plus registered voters supporting the request in question.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine utilized this procedure to bring these regulatory propositions before the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
[RELATED: Maine Considering California-style Rules to Limit Sales of Gas-Powered Cars and Trucks]
A final vote will not be taken by the Maine BEP until the Board has officially responded to more than a thousand public comments that were offered in relation to the proposed rule change.
Over the summer, the Maine BEP held a public hearing concerning these rule changes that drew a crowd of more than 150 people, 87 of whom signed up to offer testimony.
[RELATED: Massive Turnout for Public Hearing on Proposed California-Style Vehicle Emissions Regulations]
The Maine Senate Republicans issued a statement earlier this afternoon detailing their position on the Maine BEP’s decision.
“Far-left progressives do everything they can to increase the cost of living for Maine’s citizens; and this is yet another example of that,” Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York) — Senate Republican Lead for the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee — said in the press release. “From senseless energy policies to now forcing Maine consumers to buy electric vehicles they don’t want, cannot afford or that aren’t practical for their needs, just three members of a seven-member unelected board chose to put their own interests above that of 1.3 million other Mainers.”
“The Legislature will need to address this situation where a petition process let 150 special interest lobbyists and their allies force Maine BEP to even consider this insane rule, let alone a board that itself has run amok,” Sen. Harrington added.
“Today, 150 people decided to use three members of a seven-member unelected board to hijack the entire legislative process and advance their own far-left agenda through an initiative that will be disastrous to Maine’s economy and harmful to our people,” Sen. Brad Farrin (R-Somerset) — Senate Republican Lead for the Legislature’s Transportation Committee — said in the statement.
“How sad is it that only one-ten-thousandth of all Maine citizens can wreak economic devastation on the rest of us through this awful process? During today’s meeting, Maine BEP board members admitted they’re concerned they will be challenged by the Legislature,” Sen. Farrin said. “Damn right they will be – we won’t let seven unelected people who aren’t answerable to the public override the 186 members of the Legislature who earned our place at the table through an election.”
As of this article’s publication, Maine Senate Democrats have not issued a public statement concerning today’s decision by the Maine BEP.
The Maine DEP is expected to reconvene in December to discuss and vote on any potential adjustments that may need to be made to the new ZEV mandates before their final adoption by the Board.
17 Comments
“THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING” – that is what always comes out of Republican mouths when something, anything is considered concerning global warming. This was a “straw vote” – you don’t even grasp what that means. We were warned about the potential disasters of global warming 50 years ago. We collectively decided to ignore the real threat. Well, now it’s too late and you Republicans don’t even want to try and slow it down. You don’t care about your children’s future or our child’s child. The number of young lobsters off the coast of Maine has decreased by 40% from 2020 thru 2022. Why? Ever-warming water is driven by global warming. The Gulf of Maine waters are warming 3 1/2 faster than the rest of the world. Did you know BILLIONS of crabs have died off the coast of Alaska? There is no longer a crabbing fishery off Alaska – it’s history and will not come back. Why? Warmer waters ki!!ed them. The Gulf of Maine is in deep trouble, we are in deep trouble as we willfully chose to destroy the planet we live on. All you care about is making money and destroying the future of your children. How Christian of you…
You would think Minority Leader Faulkingham would care as he makes his living off the ocean as a lobster fisherman – he doesn’t.
Make China great again 🇨🇳
Climate alarmism and it’s advocacy for policies that make energy expensive and unreliable and actually do nothing to avert global warming should be a top issue in the 2024 elections.
Maine could go back to pre-Stone Age emissions today and not affect the climate one bit.
Wow that first post was scary, Foes Jenneifer Rooks on NPR have a new Nomme de guerre?
Climate change is a fraud.
A couple of observations, First 1.3 million population Maine residents. 24 million tourists visit Maine every year. If the tree huggers were serious they would ban out of state gas powered transpiration but just in case I’ll trade in my super efficient sedan for a mid size diesel truck.
Second, I wonder if the same people who pay for the “no on 3” tv commercials might also employ some of the posters to this thread as “consultants or climate conspiracy theorists”.
This bill is beyond ridiculous, even if the entire United States converted all vehicle to zero or low emissions it would not make a an impact on “global climate change.”
This does nothing but raise my cost of living, I’ll buy my Internal combustion engine vehicles from out of state and pay the excise tax.
Just. Say. No.
Stop the rule by fiat mentality!
I believe the rule will say that I cannot buy a gas car or pickup in Maine. It will not say that I cannot buy my new F 150 in NH or MA and bring it home, paying the same tax as if I had bought it in Bangor. OK, off to a nearby state to buy and my regrets to the Ford dealer in Bangor.
Take the names of those on the board and publicly holding them accountable for purchasing a zero emissions vehicle.
I’ll endorse this ridiculous policy when China, India, and every other nation that pollutes more than the US is forced to adopt it. Do climate alarmists think if we enact these histrionic measures our air and climate will be wonderful even though the air and climate from polluting nations will be awful? Is there some invisible air boundary that’s going to ensure we get the benefit of these draconian laws? I don’t know but probably not since we’ve gotten the Canadian wildfire smoke for months.
As a regular person who just wants to live and let live is it impossible these days to just be left alone?
Mike Grove, it would be in your best interest to educate yourself on the climate change hoax which is natural and cyclical, not man made. It’s simply another power and money grab by the global elites. Try watching a few of Professor David Dilley’s videos at: http://www.globalweatheroscillations.org
Here’s an appropriate quote from Henry Kissinger that applies to all the dimwits who promote this nonsense: “To be absolutely certain about something, one must know everything or nothing about it.” Grove chose the latter.
This is beyond ridiculous and disgusting! They need to be STOPPED our State is not California!
Yeah, let’s all buy electric vehicles that weigh two to three times as much a conventional cars. Great for bridges, parking garages and fantastic for shedding small dust sized bits of rubber from the tires that, when inhaled, is way more harmful than asbestos. Have one catch on fire, and you’ll need a 3-town response for water just to put the fire out. Batteries also work fantastic in cold weather. Just ask AAA when they’re out jumpstarting cars that won’t start on cold winter days. Plus, they’re moneymakers helping the little children from Congo mine for cobalt for electric batteries. In conclusion, it should be mandatory that if you own an electric car, you can only charge your car from solar panels, NOT from fossil fueled power stations. Otherwise you’re being a total hypocrite.
A very simple solution disband and eliminate the BEP and then they have no power. IF the Republicans AND Democrats truly cared about the people of Maine that would be the first item on the agenda this year, but no they do not care about Maine people. I am going to do just what Gardiner stated, buy my vehicles in NH, too bad for the dealers in Maine. Again you get what you vote for!!!
I’m echoing what others commenting here said. We just buy our vehicles in NH or another state. The ones who will suffer from this stupidity will be dealerships, not us. They will lose customers and their money. Maine should not resemble California in ANY way. Leave Maine Maine. Period.