Meg Hansen: ‘Vermont is not a colony of California’

By Meg Hansen

In 2020, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order banning the sale of most internal combustion engines (ICE) by 2035. The ban will impact 15 other states including Vermont that are legally tied to California’s emissions regulations.

In response to California’s executive order, a new multi-state coalition — represented by the Ethan Allen Institute in Vermont — has formed to raise awareness about these CA-derived regulations and the ICE ban that will negatively impact most of New England.

At the March 10 virtual press conference, EAI President offered the following remarks:

“First, Vermont is not a colony of California. It is anti-democratic and irrational for Vermont lawmakers to cede regulatory authority over our vehicle standards to another state. In 2000, The State of Vermont adopted California’s Low-Emission Vehicle criteria and Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations. Minimizing air pollution by regulating tailpipe emissions is one thing, but imposing a blanket ban on the dominant vehicle technology is another.

Second, technology bans and mandates cannot succeed in the absence of affordable alternatives. Banning gasoline-powered vehicles cannot and will not force a transition to zero-emission vehicles because ZEV technology is not affordable or easily available at present. Electric vehicles (EV) have miles to go before they can compete in the market without the aid of government subsidies and tax credits. Real solutions would focus on improving EV technology, which involves giving the process the time it needs and the space to fail and evolve. Commanding that ICE vehicles become obsolete by 2030 or 2035 achieves nothing but political points.

Finally, in the face of record high gas prices and inflation, Vermont policymakers need to expand choices and not limit our ability to commute to work and put food on the table. The vast majority of Americans don’t have disposable income to ride inflation waves and stick to the (Russian) man — as many in positions of power and influence are demanding. Speaking of moral imperatives, we should not implement policies that will make the average Vermonter poorer.”

Meg Hansen is president of the Ethan Allen Institute.

Image courtesy of Public domain

7 thoughts on “Meg Hansen: ‘Vermont is not a colony of California’

  1. It’s not far from it now Dano.
    Last year I saw a house for sale in Vermont for only $15K and apparently someone needed to also buy the old lady still living in the place… yeah.. I had to read that listing a few times.

    That this is going on now sure isn’t the Vermont I’ve always known..

  2. It seems that Vermont elected officials have a classic “no show job “. They get elected and do a dog and pony show , have no clue minions make laws that average folk pay the price.

  3. There is NO reasonable reason for our clean air policy to be tied to the worst smog
    ridden state in the Union. If the commies who initiate these policies want to be like
    CA then just move there and let Vermont get back to being what it was before the 70’s.
    These CA policies directly hurt the middle class and poor the most and need to be
    overturned. Dam but I wish i could just sell out and move but that’s not in the cards.

  4. So, by 2030 or 2035 Vermonters won’t be allowed to buy a new ICE vehicle in VT. What if one goes to another state and brings back a new ICE vehicle. Will VT DMV not allow the vehicle to be registered? I guess we’ll all be driving used ICE vehicles purchased from another state where one’s $60,000 vehicle doesn’t rust out in ten years.

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