Virginia governor announces state will exit California emissions standards

Jun 06, 2024

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

In a recent policy shift, Virginia is planning to abandon the California emissions standards on vehicles that it first adopted in 2021. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, announced the decision, stating that government mandates on the types of cars people can purchase are “fundamentally wrong.”

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“Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses,” Youngkin said in a statement. “The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”

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Under California’s emissions regulations, Virginia would have required 22% of new vehicles sold in the commonwealth to be electric or hybrid by 2025, increasing to 35% in 2026, and 100% come 2035.

The standards were initially implemented when the state’s government was controlled entirely by Democratic leadership. Now, Youngkin, a Republican, is charting a new course.

“To be very clear, this is not a statement around electric vehicles,” the governor said. “I am very supportive of Virginians buying electric vehicles, but I want Virginians to make that decision for themselves.”

Virginia’s Democratic Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell released a statement accusing Youngkin of “reckless, illegal and unconstitutional actions” regarding the move.

Surovell added that “even Vladimir Putin does not claim to have this much power.” The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) also criticized Youngkin’s decision, calling it “illegal, shortsighted and bad public policy.”

However, public opinion in Virginia appears to generally favor Youngkin’s position.

A 2023 poll found that only 9% of Virginians strongly supported adopting California’s standards. About 56% of respondents strongly agreed that Virginia should establish its own regulations independently of California.

Tags: Auto industry, California, carbon emissions, Electric vehicles, Glenn Youngkin, Hybrid, Virginia

[JACK AYLMER]

IN THE FUTURE, SOME STATES MAY TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF CARS YOU CAN AND CANNOT BUY.

OVER A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY IS FOLLOWING CALIFORNIA’S LEAD IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSITION.

BUT ONE STATE IS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS.

VIRGINIA NOW PLANS TO ABANDON THE CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS IT PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BACK IN 20-21.

GOVERNOR GLEN YOUNGKIN SAYING THE GOVERNMENT MANDATING WHICH CARS PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE IS “FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG.”

[YOUNGKIN]

The idea that unelected bureaucrats in California should be deciding for Virginians, what car they drive is wrong.

[JACK AYLMER]

THE LAW WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF NEW VEHICLES SOLD IN THE STATE TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYBRID STARTING IN 20-25.

BY 20-35, ALL VEHICLES SOLD IN VIRGINIA WOULD HAVE TO BE ZERO-EMISSION MODELS.

THESE STANDARDS WERE FIRST ADOPTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH WHEN IT WAS UNDER DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.

BUT WITH YOUNGKIN NOW IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, HE’S SETTING VIRGINIA ON A DIFFERENT COURSE.

[YOUNGKIN]

To be very clear, this is not a statement around electric vehicles. And I am I am very supportive of Virginians, buying electric vehicles, but I want Virginians to make that decision for themselves.

[JACK AYLMER]

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY BOTH DEMOCRATS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

WITH VIRGINIA’S DEMOCRATIC SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ACCUSING YOUNGKIN OF BREAKING THE LAW TO ABUSE HIS POWER-

COMPARING THE GOVERNOR TO VLADIMIR PUTIN OVER THE DECISION.

MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER SAID THIS MOVE IS “ILLEGAL, SHORTSIGHTED, AND BAD PUBLIC POLICY.”

ARGUING THAT VIRGIANS WILL NOW MISS OUT ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS THE LAW COULD HAVE PROVIDED.

BUT, A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE AGREE WITH YOUNGKIN HERE.

A 20-23 POLL FOUND JUST NINE PERCENT OF VIRGINIANS STRONGLY SUPPORTED ADOPTING CALIFORNIA’S STANDARDS.

AND 56 PERCENT STRONGLY AGREED THAT VIRGINIA SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN REGULATIONS, INDEPENDENT OF WHAT’S BEING ENFORCED IN CALIFORNIA.

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSITION HASN’T COME WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. TO LEARN ABOUT MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ONE, DOWNLOAD OUR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER – FOR THE LATEST.