AUGUSTA, Maine — As more automakers commit to creating more electric vehicles, the State of Maine is considering legislation designed to drive more consumers to buy EV cars.
Board members of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection voted Tuesday to move forward with California's Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which will be voted again on for adoption later this year.
If adopted, the rule would require zero-emission cars to make up at least 43 percent of new sales in 2027 and 82 percent of sales by 2032.
According to the Department of Energy, Maine has close to 5,000 EV cars on the road today.
"The rules will bring billions of dollars in benefits to the state, in terms of air quality benefits, health benefits, consumer benefits," Senior Attorney Emily Green with the Conservation Law Foundation said in support.
A handful of states around the country—including Massachusetts and Vermont—have recently adopted versions of the rule.
Taking into consideration close to 2,000 public comments on the proposal from earlier this year, board members sifted through possible pitfalls such as Maine's charging infrastructure.
"The board identified a number of issues mostly regarding uncertainty with this program and Maine's ability to handle the infrastructure needs that would come with the adoption of the rules," Board Executive Analyst William Hinkle said.
Another big concern is a lack of incentives, both for manufacturers to increase the number of EVs they send to dealerships and for the average Mainers who may not be able to afford a new EV.
Those in opposition say points like range anxiety and a lack of options may affect Mainers as well.
"I really don't think this deliberative body is the right one to make this level of a policy decision," board member Robert Marvinney said.
Other state representatives like Rep. Austin Theriault have expressed disapproval of the proposal, stating that the legislature should be making the decision.
"I know there's some nuance in the language at the end of the day it limits the sale of certain types of vehicles ... and in rural Maine, this is going to be extremely destructive," Rep. Theriault said.
The board also decided not to advance a similar proposal to encourage the sales of electric trucks at Tuesday's discussion.