The Maine Board of Environmental Protection was set to discuss a California-style electric vehicle mandate, but the meeting was postponed due to a severe storm leaving 400,000 residents without power.
The mandate would require 82% of new vehicles to be zero-emission by 2032. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden opposed the plan, citing grid insufficiency and lack of charging stations.
Despite opposition, the Democratic governor and the Maine BEP are pushing for the mandate, disregarding grid strain and the impracticality during severe weather. (Trending: Judge Announces Historic Ruling In Jeffrey Epstein Case)
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection said in a statement, “Governor Janet Mills declared a State of Civil Emergency for 14 Maine counties following a significant wind and rain storm that has left hundreds of thousands of people without power and that has caused significant flooding and infrastructure damage, including to town and state roadways.”
“In consideration of the challenges facing Maine citizens who may wish to participate in the upcoming Board meeting in Augusta, the Board is postponing its meeting scheduled for December 21, 2023,” read the statement.
Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden said, “In two days, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection will vote on proposed rules that would establish a California-style set of mandates forcing Maine auto dealers — and ultimately their customers — to purchase zero-emission vehicles.”
“Earlier this year, I submitted testimony in opposition to such a mandate and have taken every opportunity in Congress to vote against policy that amounts to de facto electric vehicle mandates,” he continued.
Adding, “Forcing Mainers to purchase cars and trucks powered by electricity when our grid is insufficient, charging stations are few and far between, and a storm like yesterday’s would render 80 percent of cars useless is, to say the least, ill-advised.”
The situation reflects a disconnect between promoting electric vehicles and acknowledging the state’s fragile electrical grid.
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