The move, which is one of the first environmental actions taken by Gov. Wes Moore (D) since taking office in January, was hailed by environmental advocates as “historic” and criticized by Republican critics as to “completely irresponsible”.
The accelerated gasoline switch is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s transportation sector, which accounts for the largest share of emissions in Maryland, according to the Department of the Environment. The agency in a report last fall outlined the need for stricter requirements to keep Maryland on track to reduce pollution and detailed the need for faster implementation of electric vehicles.
The regulation is more aggressive than the federal government is calling for. President Biden signed an executive order two years ago calling for 40 to 50 percent of the nation’s annual sales to be battery electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2030.
Maryland is one of 17 states that agreed to follow California’s emissions standards, which federal law allows to be stricter than standards set by the federal government.
In August, California adopted new Advanced Clean Cars II regulations that set annual sales requirements for plug-in hybrids and zero-emission vehicles for model years 2026 through 2035. Several governors immediately followed California’s lead and they implemented the newest standards designed to mitigate pollution and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
But former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) failed to act despite the efforts of environmentalists and Democratic lawmakers who urged him to do so.
“The only thing the governor was supposed to do was pass regulations, but he chose not to,” Del said. David Fraser-Hidalgo (D-Montgomery), who was one of three delegates who wrote to Hogan in September asking him to act. “It was extraordinarily unfortunate because that sends signals to manufacturers about which states to send EVs to. So what it did was make it harder, a little bit harder, to get as many EVs in Maryland as in the other states.”
Chris Hoagland, the director of Air and Radiation at the Department of the Environment, said in an interview Tuesday that the new rule increases the percentage of sales that are zero emissions over time to reach the goal of 100 percent by 2035. The new cars must be electric with battery, fuel cell or plug-in hybrid vehicles, he said.
Hoagland said the state is also making infrastructure investments to ensure charging stations are available on interstates and for drivers to use in their own driveways.
House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel (R-Allegany) predicted the action will put a strain on the family budgets of Maryland residents.
“It is both unfortunate and counterproductive that Governor Moore has made the false decision to move forward with this radical environmental policy that has not been examined for its impact on our state,” Buckel said in a statement. “This is a policy that was created in California. It’s based on California’s economy, California’s transportation needs, and California’s power grid.
Fraser-Hidalgo said Republican opposition is based on old data, given that electric vehicle prices have fallen and state and federal governments are offering incentives for drivers to buy the cars.
“Electric vehicles are getting cheaper and cheaper,” he said. “There is more competition, which lowers prices.”
