Virginia governor announces state will exit California emissions standards

[JACK AYLMER]

IN THE FUTURE, SOME STATES MAY TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF CARS YOU CAN AND CANNOT BUY.

OVER A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY IS FOLLOWING CALIFORNIA’S LEAD IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSITION.

BUT ONE STATE IS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS.

VIRGINIA NOW PLANS TO ABANDON THE CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS IT PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BACK IN 20-21.

GOVERNOR GLEN YOUNGKIN SAYING THE GOVERNMENT MANDATING WHICH CARS PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE IS “FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG.”

[YOUNGKIN]

The idea that unelected bureaucrats in California should be deciding for Virginians, what car they drive is wrong.

[JACK AYLMER]

THE LAW WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF NEW VEHICLES SOLD IN THE STATE TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYBRID STARTING IN 20-25.

BY 20-35, ALL VEHICLES SOLD IN VIRGINIA WOULD HAVE TO BE ZERO-EMISSION MODELS.

THESE STANDARDS WERE FIRST ADOPTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH WHEN IT WAS UNDER DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.  

BUT WITH YOUNGKIN NOW IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, HE’S SETTING VIRGINIA ON A DIFFERENT COURSE.

[YOUNGKIN]

To be very clear, this is not a statement around electric vehicles. And I am I am very supportive of Virginians, buying electric vehicles, but I want Virginians to make that decision for themselves.

[JACK AYLMER]

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY BOTH DEMOCRATS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

WITH VIRGINIA’S DEMOCRATIC SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ACCUSING YOUNGKIN OF BREAKING THE LAW TO ABUSE HIS POWER-

COMPARING THE GOVERNOR TO VLADIMIR PUTIN OVER THE DECISION.

MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER SAID THIS MOVE IS “ILLEGAL, SHORTSIGHTED, AND BAD PUBLIC POLICY.”

ARGUING THAT VIRGIANS WILL NOW MISS OUT ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS THE LAW COULD HAVE PROVIDED.

BUT, A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE AGREE WITH YOUNGKIN HERE.

A 20-23 POLL FOUND JUST NINE PERCENT OF VIRGINIANS STRONGLY SUPPORTED ADOPTING CALIFORNIA’S STANDARDS.

AND 56 PERCENT STRONGLY AGREED THAT VIRGINIA SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN REGULATIONS, INDEPENDENT OF WHAT’S BEING ENFORCED IN CALIFORNIA.

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRANSITION HASN’T COME WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. TO LEARN ABOUT MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ONE, DOWNLOAD OUR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER – FOR THE LATEST.