Massachusetts Lawmakers Need to Debate and Weigh in on Policy that Bans Products in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released the following statement today warning the public that Massachusetts is accelerating its adoption of California style regulations banning internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles by 2035. The day before New Year’s Eve, the Baker administration filed a proposal to immediately adopt California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation, which would require increasing electric vehicle truck sales between 2024 and 2035. Today at 10:00 a.m., the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) held a virtual hearing to hear testimony in favor of accelerating the ban for conventionally powered medium and heavy-duty trucks. These are the types of vehicles that typically deliver freight and goods and are used in everyday life such as municipal trash-pick up, construction vehicles, and snowplows.
These California style regulations banning conventionally powered vehicles will result in higher costs, estimated as high as three times the price for vehicles available today. That significant price increase was noted in today’s hearing. These regulations are aimed at banning conventionally powered vehicles in order to artificially change market conditions to benefit electric vehicles (EVs). When previously questioned, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides described the policy as “aggressive” action and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) acknowledged the change in policy will result in higher costs.
In 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order for his state that would implement ICE bans by 2035. Sixteen other states, including Massachusetts which signed on in 1995, have adopted California’s regulations as a matter of policy. New Hampshire is not among the 16 states and would have considerable economic advantages over Massachusetts if the regulations are ultimately adopted. However, Newsom’s executive order is more than efficiency standards. It’s a major change in policy for Massachusetts, as consumers would be banned from making purchases they are free to make today on items which are essential to the everyday lives of all Massachusetts residents.
“If the Governor of California wants to ban products for his constituents that’s his prerogative, but that does not mean Massachusetts consumers should be forced to live under the Governor of California’s high handed edicts, nor does it mean these policies will translate to our environment. Our country is faced with the worst inflation in 40 years, and now is not the time for Massachusetts to secretly start the process of banning affordable vehicles just because some state leaders and advocates wants Massachusetts to be more like California. Obviously, Massachusetts is nothing like California and Massachusetts lawmakers need to wake up to the fact that these California style regulations and bans are being considered without their input,” stated Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.
“The Baker and Newsom administrations cannot unilaterally begin the process of accelerating the ban of sale of conventionally powered vehicles in Massachusetts based on political edicts coming from Sacramento. Major policies that ban the sale of entire categories of vehicles should be debated by the legislature and not rushed through by unelected bureaucrats in Massachusetts or the Governor of California,” concluded Craney.