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Youngkin pulls state out of EV regulations
6/12/2024 | 2m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Virginia would no longer use California’s electric vehicle rules.
Citing consumer choice, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced that the state was pulling out of a California rule that would mandate selling only electric vehicles by 2035.
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VPM News is a local public television program presented by VPM
VPM News
Youngkin pulls state out of EV regulations
6/12/2024 | 2m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
Citing consumer choice, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced that the state was pulling out of a California rule that would mandate selling only electric vehicles by 2035.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipGLENN YOUNGKIN: My gosh.
BILLY SHIELDS: Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Virginia is lifting strict auto emission standards.
GLENN YOUNGKIN: The idea that unelected bureaucrats in California should be deciding for Virginians what car they drive is wrong.
BILLY SHIELDS: A California law mandates that all vehicles sold by 2035 be electric.
The Virginia State legislature adopted the standards in 2021.
An organization representing Virginia car dealers lauded Youngkins decision.
DON HALL: My dealers right now throughout the Commonwealth, of Virginia are stuck with a lot of EVs on the ground unable to sell those EVs.
People don't have an interest in paying for those cars.
The average EV today is running close to 50, 60, $70,000, a lot more expensive than the typical car.
BILLY SHIELDS: Halls organization estimates almost 9% of new vehicles sold in Virginia are electric.
But one scientist at VCU said of Youngkins decision, ARIF SIKDER: It's basically shocking.
BILLY SHIELDS: Geologist Arif Sikder says, the move sends the wrong message.
ARIF SIKDER: It's literally dangerous.
So we are going backward by doing that because we are not going pro-environment.
We are not going pro people's health.
We are not going pro to save our planet.
BILLY SHIELDS: And Democratic lawmakers wonder if Youngkin has the power to make this decision.
GHAZALA HASHMI: My perspective, and the perspective of many people, the governor is taking an illegal action in trying to unilaterally pull Virginia out of standards that we have already agreed to.
And that is part of our Virginia code.
BILLY SHIELDS: Joining Governor Youngkin at the event in Chester, Attorney General Jason Miyares has laid out his justification for the move.
JASON MIYARES: When the general assembly passed this bill, they use languages like “may.” “May” is permissive versus language that commands The General Assembly could have put in that language.
They failed to do so.
BILLY SHIELDS: Youngkin said the Commonwealth would follow the less stringent federal regulations on electric cars starting next year.
For VPM News, I'm Billy Shields.
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