Consumer Group Asks Delaware’s Legislators to Pump the Brakes on Misguided Policy
DOVER – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, issued the following statement after the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s decision to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
“We are disappointed that the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has chosen to follow the political path of California’s economically damaging mandates to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles,” CEA Mid-Atlantic Director Mike Butler said. “Delaware’s legislators need to speak up and pump the brakes on this untenable, unsustainable, and unworkable policy for Delaware’s families and small businesses.”
“Removing mobility options by forcing consumers to purchase EVs before the requisite infrastructure is in place is untenable – ignoring the fact that only 494 public charging ports exist in the entire state. Not to mention the need to find 3.3 billion more kWh of electricity to meet this mandate.”
“Given Delaware’s current budget situation, mandating EVs is unsustainable – requiring the state to find over $320 million dollars every year to replace lost fuel tax revenue to maintain public transportation infrastructure,” Butler said.
“More importantly, for Delaware families this is unworkable – taking the average driver 30 years to make up the higher upfront costs of purchasing an EV. With more than 11% of Delaware’s citizens living at or near the poverty level, purchasing an EV is virtually impossible. This is why public opinion data shows that most Delawareans do not want this ban.”
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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.
Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org
