By Chet Thompson
02 July 2024
Governor Glenn Youngkin recently announced that Virginia will eliminate California’s mandate that requires all new vehicles sold in the Commonwealth to be electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles (EV) by 2035. This regulation – a ban on new gas, diesel and traditional sales. hybrid vehicles — announced by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), will take effect as soon as next year when 35% of all model year 2026 cars sold must meet California’s “zero emission” definition.
This all stems from Bill 2021 championed by Governor Northam and his allies in the General Assembly. He enacted a policy directing the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) to implement regulations linking Virginia law to California vehicle emissions standards. And if you can believe it, this law is intentionally exempted from the Administrative Process Act, denying Virginians any opportunity to provide input in the regulatory process and dodging a larger economic review for policy.
It sounds rude, but that’s exactly what happened: the previous administration in Richmond put Virginia’s vehicle policy in the hands of Californians.
In November 2022, California completed new regulations at the direction of Governor Gavin Newsom. Under the new California policy, the sale of any new hybrid, gasoline, diesel, flex or traditional fuel cars and trucks will be illegal and subject to heavy fines, whether in California or in California’s neighboring states.
California’s gas car ban will harm Virginia’s drivers and small businesses and harm US national security. Consumers will pay dearly under the ban, facing higher costs in the new and used car markets and finding more and more vehicles beyond the reach of families. Any compliance penalties imposed on automakers—about $20,000 per vehicle—may be passed on to Virginia consumers.
The absurd and un-American mandate to “choose electric” in California’s timeline will also increase Virginia’s and the US’s dependence on China, as China controls the global EV battery and mineral supply chain.
Make no mistake: criticism of California’s gas car ban and EV mandate policy—and strong opposition to the spread of such policies in the Commonwealth of Virginia and other states—should not be taken as an indictment of EVs themselves. EVs are a great choice for many Americans, and if these cars and trucks work for their family’s needs and fit their budget, that’s great. Families have the right to make the choice to buy an EV, but no government mandate should force them to buy one or limit their access to other vehicle options.
When the stakes are clear and the choice is between government mandates and consumer freedom, the right move is to err on the side of the consumer. And that’s exactly what Governor Youngkin did when he voted to end California’s control over what vehicles can and can’t be sold in Virginia. Virginia drivers, not California regulators 3,000 miles away, should be able to choose which vehicle to buy. When people are free to choose, they make the decisions that are best for them, their businesses and their families.
Other states involved in California’s EV mandate should follow Governor Youngkin’s bold and necessary leadership and free their citizens from the tyranny of California’s gas car ban.
Chet Thompson is president and CEO of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). He previously served as deputy general counsel for the US Environmental Protection Agency during the George W. Bush administration and was a partner at Crowell and Moring, where he chaired the Environment and Natural Resources Group.
This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and is available via RealClearWire.
