Wednesday, May 10, 2023

GoLocalProv News Team

On Wednesday, Governor Dan McKee announced the filing of regulations that will prohibit the sale of gasoline-powered automobiles in Rhode Island in 2035 — less than 12 years away.

The prospect is dramatic. The backdrop is that climate experts are warning that if action is not taken immediately, America and the world will not be able to reverse the impacts of climate change.

This is a major policy change and dramatically alters transportation and commerce in Rhode Island. The state is not alone in the move.

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Rhode Island joins Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Oregon, New York, and Massachusetts in adopting the “ACCII” (Advanced Clean Cars) California standards. Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey are currently moving forward with adoption. Rhode Island also joins 17 other jurisdictions that are working to foster a self-sustaining market for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, many of which will do so by adopting ACT (Advanced Clean Trucks_ California standards.

“This is a huge step forward,” said Senator Alana DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown), who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture. “We thank Governor McKee and the Department of Environmental Management for working on this issue with us. Motor vehicle emissions cause major health problems, especially for children and those living in high-traffic areas. By reducing those emissions, we’re creating a healthier, safer world for all of us.”

But GOP House leader Michael Chippendale blasted the move by McKee.

“It also should be noted that it remains unclear if these new ‘California’ emission standards would survive a constitutional challenge under the Commerce Clause and if the federal government will continue to grant California’s waiver from the federal emission standards required under the Clean Air Act,” said Chippendale. “Rhode Islanders can no longer shoulder the inequitable and costly policies of the McKee and Biden Administrations.  Rhode Islanders will not relinquish to unrealistic deadlines, nor have their consumer freedoms abolished to the whims of a steering committee that is out of touch with their day-to-day struggles.”

Governors and EV

But, McKee personally is not an early adopter. Neither McKee’s personal vehicles nor his state vehicles are electric.

Some governors are far ahead in using electric vehicles for their personal transportation.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, drives exclusively in all-electric vehicles and that began in 2022.

“I hope this sends the message that we walk the talk,” Gov. Scott said in August of 2022 as he joined the Vermont State Police Executive Protection Unit in picking up a new Ford F-150 Lightning from Twin State Ford in St. Johnsbury.

Maybe the strongest gubernatorial evangelist for the electric vehicle movement is conservative Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

“I’m fulfilling my promise of creating good-paying jobs for our state,” Kemp told one news agency. “I’ll tell you, there are a lot of conservatives that are driving electric vehicles. I’d also tell them: you need to go out and drive one because it’ll snap your head back.”

He points to the F-150 Lightning, Ford’s electric pickup, predicting: “You’re gonna have a lot of Republicans driving that truck.”

Mckee’s press secretary Olivia DaRocha said, “As outlined in the EO the Governor signed earlier this week, the state is moving forward with transitioning its vehicle fleet to electric, including the Governor’s vehicle. Just like today’s announcement, this shift will be done responsibly and over time as we continue to build out EV infrastructure in Rhode Island and as the industry continues to build out their supply to meet the need.”

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