RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the end of the California electric vehicle mandate in the Commonwealth. Youngkin has been pushing against the policy for years.
Virginia adopted new regulations in 2022 passed by the California Air Resources Board that would phase out new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035 to achieve zero emissions, creating a new path for more electrical vehicles. California's environmental model is much stricter than what's established by the federal government.
“Once again, Virginia is declaring independence – this time from a misguided electric vehicle mandate imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement.
Under the California standards, zero-emission vehicles would have to make up at least 22% of new vehicle sales by the end of next year; if not, manufacturers must pay a penalty.
"Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses," Youngkin added.
In 2023, electrical vehicles made up 9% of overall car sales according to the Youngkin administration.
"This is not a California mandate. This is a Virginia mandate that the governor is trying to overrule," State Sen. Barbara Favola (D) told WUSA9. "So, what he's doing is trying to make the standards that the Virginia lawmakers adopted, he's trying to make them look extreme."
Favola was one of 21 Virginia senators who in 2021 approved legislation to adopt the California standards signed by then-Gov. Ralph Northam.
On Wednesday, Youngkin and his staff announced the end of the policy, effective at the end of 2024, when California’s current regulations expire.
“The idea that government should tell people what kind of car they can or can’t purchase is fundamentally wrong," Youngkin said. "Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses. The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”
An opinion from Attorney General Jason Miyares confirms the law, as written, does not require Virginia to follow the Advanced Clean Cars II regulation. The Commonwealth will follow federal regulation standards on January 1, 2025.
“EV mandates like California’s are unworkable and out of touch with reality, and thankfully the law does not bind us to their regulations," Miyares said. "California does not control which cars Virginians buy and any thoughts that automobile manufacturers should face millions of dollars in civil penalties rather than allowing our citizens to choose their own vehicles is completely absurd.”
Policy experts say Youngkin's decision will likely be challenged in the courts.
"We'll see what the courts decide, but after it goes through that process, if we have to take other steps, then the general assembly will," Favola added.
This marks at least the second time he is accused of circumvented environmental standards passed by Democrats. Last year, Youngkin ordered the state Air Pollution Control Board to exit the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The RGGI is a cooperative among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.
That move to pull out of the RGGI is the subject of a lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center who argues that the governor has no power to undo a law passed by the legislature.
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