Press Release




*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

?

December 22, 2023

?

Contact: John Bott

[email protected]

________________________________________________________________________







BEP Reopens Public Comment on Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate!

"House Republicans encourage public input"

AUGUSTA - The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) has reopened Public Comment on the?Chapter 127-A: Advanced Clean Cars II Program, also know as the "California Rule." The public comment period extends until February 5, 2024.

"?House Republicans will not rest until the voices of all the Maine people are heard loud and clear,? said House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor). ?The devastating storm this week showed how irresponsible the move to mandate electric vehicle sales is. If Democrats continue to model their policies on California, the next step is to outlaw chainsaws and generators.?"

"# # #"
BEP
FROM THE BEP WEBSITE: [link removed]

?

Chapter 127-A: Advanced Clean Cars II Program (Reposting)

Ch 127 Fact Sheet? [ [link removed] ]?::?Ch 127 Draft Rule [ [link removed] ]?::?Public hearing transcript [ [link removed] ]?::?Comment on this Rule <[email protected]?subject=Comment%20on%20Chapter%20127-A:%20Advanced%20Clean%20Cars%20II%20Program%20(Reposting)>

*Concise Summary:*

Reposting

In response to a citizen petition, this new rule was proposed to establish motor vehicle emission standards for new passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles by incorporating the requirements of the California Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, beginning model year 2027.

A public hearing on the proposed Chapter 127-A was held on August 17, 2023, and the comment period closed on August 28, 2023. A final vote on the proposed rule was scheduled for the Board meeting on December 21, 2023, however, due to the state of emergency resulting from the December 18 storm, that meeting was cancelled. This prevented a Board vote on whether to adopt the proposed rule, and forced any potential adoption beyond the rule's proposed effective date of January 1, 2024. This also prevents the rule from taking effect in time to apply to the 2027 model year. Therefore, the proposed rule has been amended to begin with model year 2028, and the Department is now requesting comments from the public concerning this substantive change. The Department has also proposed other non-substantive changes to the proposal.

Public comment [ [link removed] ]

*Agency contact:*
Lynne Cayting <[email protected]>
17 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0017
(207)-287-7599

*Public hearing:*?August 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m.
Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive
Augusta, ME 04330

?

*Public noticed:*?July 26, 2023

*Comment deadline:*?February 5, 2024, 5:00 PM

*BACKGROUND:?*

Unelected Board of Environmental Protection members appointed by Governor Janet Mills are on the verge of moving Maine toward elimination of gas powered vehicles. A vote on adopting the ?California Rule? mandating electric vehicle (EV) sales was scheduled for their December 21 meeting. Under the Rule, car dealers will be required to meet the absurd goal of: 43% of new sales in the 2028 model year be electric vehicles, increasing to 82% of new sales by the year 2032. That move, if adopted would, will put Maine on the path toward elimination of gas-powered vehicles by making then artificially expensive.?

All it took to initiate this "idea" was signatures from 150 ?environmental activists? under an obscure provision of Maine law. What followed was a proposed Rule 127-A petition public hearing that drew testimony from hundreds of people. 81% of the testimony was against adopting the ?California Rule.??

Despite overwhelming opposition from citizens, the Board voted 4-2 to prepare for adoption of the Rule at its' December 21 meeting. The meeting was postponed after widespread power outages resulted in a State Civil Emergency Declaration by the Governor.

Currently, Maine generates about 6% sales from electric vehicles. The lack of enthusiasm for EVs can be attributed to a number of factors, including: cost, limited charging stations, unsuitability for cold climate, limited range, negligible effect on climate change, and many others raised at the public hearing.??







________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Maine House Republican Office. [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud, on behalf of: Maine House Republican Office ? Room 332, State House, 2 State House Station ? Augusta, ME 04333-0002 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]