FILE - Electric vehicles are lined up for sale as an alternative to gas-powered cars at Walker Motors, a Ford dealership, in Montpelier, Vt., Monday, June 16, 2008. The neighboring state of Maines environmental regulators are set to decide, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, whether the state will join a growing number of states adopting new standards designed to grow the use of electric vehicles. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)
"Extremists seem to think that only 6% of consumers want EVs because the government hasn't forced them to buy one. The truth is this plan isn't feasible because of Maine's geography and infrastructure," said House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham late last year.
A dozen states have adopted the electric vehicle standards, and 17 states have adopted all or part of California's low-emission and zero-emission vehicle regulations, according to the California Air Resources Board. The proposals have found support in Democratically-controlled states.
Meanwhile, sales of electric vehicles have begun to slow. The Biden administration announced new emissions standards on Wednesday that could boost the industry.
Transportation is a major contributor to Maine's greenhouse gas emissions, and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has made tackling climate change a major piece of her tenure.
The state received hundreds of comments about the electric vehicle proposal in advance of Wednesday's meeting. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group that represents car manufacturers, testified in support of the proposal.
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The proposal might still need to clear more hurdles, as state lawmakers are considering legislation that could allow them to ultimately make the final decision.
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