Connecticut pumps brakes on banning gas car sales, other states push ahead

Efforts to ban new gas-powered vehicle sales in the United States encountered a hurdle this week. While an increasing number of states are passing legislation to implement new clean vehicle standards by 2035, amid opposition Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has opted to pump the brakes on his state’s participation in the growing movement.

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“Disappointed not in the governor, but in my colleagues. These standards are not radical or controversial,” said Connecticut State Rep. Anne Hughes. “They are quite frankly the least we can do in the face of an urgent climate crisis.”

Connecticut’s initial plan to prohibit new gasoline-powered vehicle sales had originally aligned with the deadlines set by other states. However, concerns regarding the high cost of buying an electric vehicle (EV), the availability of charging stations, and the state’s electric grid’s capacity to handle the transition prompted a bipartisan movement in the state Legislature to slow down the proposal.

“What the administration would like to do is just state a goal, mandate the purchase of electric vehicles in 2035, with no plan to get there. No plan,” said Connecticut State Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly. “There are too many questions regarding the capacity of our electric grid, the cost and location of grid improvements, and the negative impact on urban, rural and working poor families.”

Connecticut’s plan aimed to mirror the automotive emissions regulations adopted by California in 2021, paving the way for other states to follow suit.

States such as Vermont, New York, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Maryland have all pledged to join these efforts, with New Jersey becoming the latest to commit last week. The Garden State has vowed to start limiting sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2027 before phasing them out entirely by 2035.

In April, the Biden administration proposed new automobile pollution limits which would require up to two-thirds of new vehicles sold in the U.S. be electric by 2032. Meanwhile, despite the setback encountered in Connecticut, state officials remain optimistic that a requirement for new vehicles sold in the state to produce zero tailpipe emissions will take shape in the near future.

“The shift to zero-emission vehicles is already here,” Lamont said. “Consumers and car companies are both embracing the change, with manufacturers significantly increasing electric vehicle sales and families choosing to purchase those vehicles in increasing numbers. Following the legislature’s direction and our neighboring states’ decision to adopt the latest California emissions standards will help ensure a predictable, orderly transition to a cleaner and healthier future.”