Maine leaders voting on the Advanced Clean Cars II program later this month
News release
South Portland — Today, local business and climate leaders held a press conference at ReVision Energy’s facility urging the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) to vote to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule at the March 20th board meeting. Advocates from ReVision Energy, Maine Public Health Association, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Conservation Law Foundation and the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy spoke to the huge health, economic, and climate benefits of cleaner cars for Mainers.
Maine’s increasingly severe, climate-driven storms show the urgency of adopting policies that curb greenhouse gas emissions to address the climate crisis. Advocates highlighted the need for state regulators to act swiftly on cutting transportation pollution to meet Maine’s climate goals and reduce emissions 45% by 2030.
Exposure to tailpipe pollution also harms public health, producing smog-forming nitrogen oxides and toxic particles that can lead to health problems, including increased risk of asthma, lung disease. and cancer.
The ACCII will cut climate emissions and dangerous air pollution while providing consumers with more cleaner car options when they buy a new car. This rule would set an increasing sales target for new electric vehicles in the state, culminating in 82% of new car sales by 2032. If adopted, Maine will become the 13th state to pass the ACCII. Many of Maine’s neighbors including Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have already adopted the cleaner car rules.
The BEP was originally set to vote on this rule in 2023, but after a severe storm linked to climate change in December, the board had to push the vote back to 2024.
Maine Clean Air, Health, and Climate Advocates Released the Following Statements:
“Maine regulators have a pivotal opportunity to spearhead the clean transportation revolution that is already in motion. Maine can currently meet the demands put on our grid and power electric vehicles for those who want to drive them, and current grid capacity predictions show that the state can accommodate even more in the future,” said Barry Woods, Senior Director of eMobility at ReVision Energy. “With millions of dollars in EV investments flowing into the state and smart grid management, Mainers can feel confident that we are ready for cleaner cars.”
“With hundreds of electric vehicles on the roads in western Maine, we know that EVs work for rural Mainers,” states Scott Vlaun, executive director of the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy in Norway, Maine. “They’re not only reliable in our severe winters and efficient to operate, they also help curb air and noise pollution in our historic downtowns and villages. The adoption of ACCII rules will assure that Maine’s rural population will have access to affordable EVs and continue to lead the inevitable transition to electric mobility.”
“Burning gasoline pollutes our air and fuels climate change. Tens of thousands of kids in Maine already suffer from asthma, and poor air quality worsens their health and that of future generations,” said Matt Wellington, Associate Director of Maine Public Health Association. “To make Maine a healthier place to live, we need to shift to cleaner and zero-pollution vehicles quickly, and the next round of clean car standards will help make that transition a reality.”
“Last week we saw media stories saying that Maine is a national leader when it comes to replacing fossil fuels for home heating with clean electric heat pumps. Now, we have another chance to be leaders in adopting clean new technologies – but we need to act urgently to boost the transition to electric cars in Maine,” said Emily Green, senior attorney for Conservation Law Foundation in Maine. “Climate change is not waiting. Our waters are warming as fast as any in the world, fish stocks are suffering, and weather is changing for the worse. Moving to clean electric vehicles will do more than cut carbon emissions, it will save Maine families money, and it will dramatically cut our rates of asthma and respiratory illness. We need to act now to remove carbon from our air and start the transition to clean electric vehicles.”
“Expanding access to zero-emission vehicles is one of our best opportunities to improve the health of Maine people, slash emissions from our most polluting sector, and bring down the prices of electric cars and trucks for everyone,” said Jack Shapiro, Climate & Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Demand for zero-emission vehicles is at an all-time high, and this new standard will make sure every Mainer has the option to buy an electric car if they want to.”
“To tackle the climate crisis in Maine, we must address transportation emissions – our nation’s largest polluting sector – head on,” said Matt Cannon, Conservation and Energy Director at Sierra Club Maine. “Our neighbors across New England have realized this, committed to the latest life-saving ACC2 and ACT standards, and already begun to reap the health, economic, and climate benefits. Across the state and nation, businesses have spoken out in support of these regulations and the positive impact zero-emission vehicles can have on operational costs, workforce recruitment, and reduced dependence on polluting fossil fuels. Businesses, advocates, and families agree clean cars and trucks are a win for all Mainers. BEP, do not pass up this opportunity to pass ACCII.”
