Policy
Published June 6, 2024 at 12:16 am ET
Starting next year, Virginia will no longer follow California’s electric vehicle mandates, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced Wednesday.
“Once again, Virginia is declaring independence, this time from a misguided mandate on electric vehicles imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement.
Although Youngkin has fought green energy mandates put in place by the previous administration – particularly the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – the announcement comes as a surprise, as this decision was believed to be in the hands of the General Assembly.
“Once again, Virginia is declaring independence, this time from a misguided mandate on electric vehicles imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement. KeynoteUSA
Youngkin encouraged state lawmakers at the start of this year’s legislative session to repeal the 2021 law that ties Virginia’s vehicle emissions policies to California’s, but the bill never made it out of committee because of the Democratic majority. of the Assembly.
But Commonwealth Attorney General Jason Miyares has issued what is sure to be a highly controversial official opinion “confirming that Virginia is not required to comply with the broad new mandates adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) no elected that will take effect in January. January 1, 2025.”
The governor held a press conference Wednesday afternoon and proudly declared the policy of emancipating Virginia from California.
“I am privileged to announce California’s electric vehicle mandate in Virginia once and for all. The idea that governments should tell Virginians what kind of car they should drive is simply wrong,” Youngkin said.
Starting next year, Virginia will no longer follow California’s electric vehicle mandates, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced Wednesday. KeynoteUSA
Federal law limits state autonomy with respect to vehicle emissions: States must comply with federal vehicle emissions standards or can choose to adopt California’s stricter standards.
In 2021, under a Democratic governor and a Democratic majority in the General Assembly, Virginia passed several bills that dramatically changed the state’s energy and environmental landscape. One was the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which committed to transitioning Virginia’s electric grid to green energy by 2050, and another tied Virginia’s electric vehicle policies to California’s.
California requires 100% of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and can fine automakers that don’t comply.
Republicans have opposed the mandates since they arrived in Virginia, but have been unable to reverse them through the legislative process. But Miyares seems confident that he has found a loophole.
In 2012, California adopted its Advanced Clean Cars I Program, which regulates vehicle emissions standards from 2015 to 2025. In 2022, California adopted Advanced Clean Cars II.
“The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board never approved, never adopted these ACCII (Advanced Clean Cars Program II) regulations and because there was an explicit sunset provision on ACCI, it expires on December 31, this year,” Miyares said.
Miyares also pointed out the “permissive” language in the Virginia law referring to the first program, ACCI, which allowed the Commonwealth to abandon California’s clean car policies in 2025.
Attorney General Jason Miyares said, “confirming that Virginia is not required to comply with the broad new mandates adopted by the unelected California Air Resources Board (CARB) that will take effect on January 1, 2025.” The Washington Post via /Keynote USA/Getty Images
“I can come to no other conclusion as Virginia’s attorney general that the provisions binding us to California’s ACCII are no longer applicable and yes, Virginians once again have consumer freedom,” Miyares said.
Republicans are expressing support for the measure, grateful that the Commonwealth’s environmental policies are no longer tied to California’s.
“Virginians, not California’s unelected bureaucrats, should be able to choose the cars that fit their families’ needs,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael McDougle posted on X.
“Pending!! This had to be one of the most ridiculous policy decisions imposed on Virginians when Democrats took full control of the government in 2020/2021,” Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, posted on X.
Virginia Democrats have yet to issue an official response to the news.
Load more…
{{#isDisplay}} {{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}} {{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}} {{/isSRVideo}}
https://nypost.com/2024/06/06/us-news/virginias-youngkin-miyares-strike-back-at-california-electric-vehicle-mandate-declaring-independence/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign =site%20buttons
Copy URL to share
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.