AUGUSTA – Following the Maine Board of Environmental Protection’s 4-2 vote rejecting the adoption of the California Advanced Clean Cars II mandate which would ban traditional gas-powered cars and limit consumer choice, Consumer Energy Alliance released the following statement:
“We applaud the Maine Board of Environmental Protection for listening to the families and businesses that spoke out against this unaffordable, unworkable mandate that would limit consumer choice in the automotive marketplace,” CEA Mid-Atlantic Executive Director Michael Butler said. “Electric vehicles have an important and growing role in our vehicle mix going forward, but mandates that serve only to increase prices and harm drivers are not the answer.”
“Across the state, Democrats and Republicans came together to acknowledge the financial burden adopting this mandate would place on families and the harm it would have on Maine’s fragile electric grid. Unlike the rules unveiled yesterday in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. EPA, Maine got it right – putting politics aside, ensuring hardworking families will not be left behind to appease special interests.”
CEA supports consumers’ right to have the vehicle they want and can afford. CEA’s recent “Freedom to Fuel: Consumer Choice in the Automotive Marketplace” report examines how some states are forcing through vehicle mandates without fully considering several important questions that will influence consumer acceptance, such as:
- Does the electric power grid have enough power to meet increased demand from EV sales mandates?
- How can average Americans afford EVs that cost nearly $15,000 more than traditional vehicles?
- Where will the critical minerals necessary for EV’s come from other than China?
The full report is available here.
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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
