The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (Maine BEP) has postponed its expected vote on the controversial California-style vehicle emissions regulations, a package of rules that would eventually all but ban the sale of new traditional gas-powered cars and trucks in Maine.
This comes as a direct result of Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) Civil State of Emergency declaration on December 19 that was issued in response to the deadly and destructive storm that took place on Monday.
Originally scheduled for Thursday, December 21, the Maine BEP has postponed its meeting to an as-of-yet unknown date. More information on the new date and time is expected to be available in the coming days.
[RELATED: Controversial EV Mandate Scheduled for Discussion by Maine BEP Just Days Before Christmas]
Among other items on the agenda for the now-postponed meeting, the Maine BEP was set to vote on a mandate requiring that 43 percent of new cars sold in Maine be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) by model year 2027 and 82 percent by model year 2032.
It can be expected that this will once again be on the docket for the Maine BEP when they hold the now-rescheduled meeting.
Following one of the state’s worst rain storms in recent memory, Gov. Mills declared a Civil State of Emergency on Tuesday for Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington Counties.
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 186,000 Central Maine Power (CMP) customers and 46,000 Versant customers are still without power.
By declaring a Civil State of Emergency, “all State of Maine resources [have been mobilized] to assist and support response and recovery efforts and positions the State to seek Federal disaster support in the coming weeks,” according to a press release published by Mills on Tuesday.
The emergency was declared verbally — as is permitted by state statute — and a written copy will be made available to the public shortly after it is filed with the Maine Secretary of State.
Mills’ declaration came more than twenty-four hours after the catastrophic flooding and widespread power outages began impacting Mainers statewide. The governor held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to address the storm and its impacts.
The Maine BEP published a press release Wednesday afternoon — less than twenty-four hours before their meeting was originally set to begin — announcing that they would be rescheduling their vote on the controversial ZEV mandate in light of the Civil Emergency.
“In consideration of the challenges facing Maine citizens who may wish to participate in the upcoming Board meeting in Augusta,” the Maine BEP wrote, “the Board is postponing its meeting scheduled for December 21, 2023.”
“Additional details regarding rescheduling of the agenda items listed on the December 21, 2023, agenda and notice of rescheduling will be provided as soon as possible,” the Board continued. “Please check the Maine Board of Environmental Protection webpage in the coming days for additional meeting information.”
“Questions regarding this notice may be directed to Board Executive Analyst William Hinkel at [email protected]. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this challenging time,” the notice concluded.
Public comment concerning the ZEV mandate that is either “directly related to comments received during the formal rulemaking comment period” or “in response to changes to the proposed rule” will be accepted orally at the upcoming BEP meeting.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="24087 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=24087">9 Comments
” mandate”? Like a mask or vax, she has no power to do this we are free men not ruled by queens
Mainers would be all set with all electric cars in this last blackout. Couldn’t leave, can ‘t heat their home with their Maine Efficiency heat pump and they all just freeze to death and it is over and the left takes over and Soros buys the state for 20 million.
Mainers would be all set with all electric cars in this last blackout. Couldn’t leave, can ‘t heat their home with their Maine Efficiency heat pump and they all just freeze to death and it is over and the left takes over and Soros buys the state for 20 million.
What a useless waste of human flesh Mills and the lackeys at the Dept. of Environmental Protection have become.
Not sure why there’s a photo of Cadbury candy but we can all take comfort in the fact that their products are Halal certified (free from animal fats and alcohol). My recommendation is to boycott the company.
If EV’s were a good idea the idiot politicians wouldn’t have to “sell” their scheme. This storm is a wake up call that mandating EV’s is a ridiculously stupid idea and bad for residents of Maine.
Why doesn’t she mandate that all Maine State Police switch to EV’s only, especially her detail.
Until that happens first, I am not listening to the crap that comes out of these Democrat politicians.
Janet, How well would Maine have fared during this storm if you get your way and force electric cars on hundreds of thousands of Mainers who don’t want anything to do with them. I say it’s fine to sell them to willing buyers but you have no right to tell me that I HAVE to buy one. Who made you queen?
Mills, you are a coward and an opportunist. Have the vote now and live with the results. Nothing will change later, EV mandates are a bad idea and you are a member of a dictatorial movement. Leave my freedoms alone and go away.
Remember CO2 is 0.04% of the atmosphere. Man made CO2 has no impact on the climate. That is the equivalent of Mills passing gas in the Superdome.
I heard about the weather conditions and it affecting a planned mandatory EV vote.
It makes me laugh because this should tell you that this is going to be a very big mistake.
Postponed…….. Just long enough for us to forget. I’m sure there are many stock portfolios that will take a hit if they don’t pass this.
They’ll wait and pass in the dead of night.