Connecticut’s 2004 Clean Cars Act, which was signed into law by Republican Governor John Rowland, requires the state to adopt California emissions standards.
In line with that, the state Department of Energy and Environment Protection implemented new regulations last month that would electrify the state fleet by 2035 and prohibit the procurement of diesel-powered buses after January 2024.
Connecticut is not ready for the new state environmental regulations that require the rapid adoption of electric vehicles, said legislative leaders in the Republican minority.
Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, said California emissions standards are too radical for Connecticut. “The legislature is the body that needs to be vested with this decision, not California,” he said.
“The legislature needs to weigh in on something as substantial and significant as that is going to change the way we move around our state and the face of our transportation,” Kelly added.
Democrats said it’s too late to revisit a law that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support nearly 20 years ago.
“There are state’s surrounding us that have adopted these regulations as well to move toward cleaner air, including Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island is in the midst of writing their regulations, New Jersey, Vermont,” said state Senator Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, who is the Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee.
The public comment period on the mandates remains open until Aug. 23. The lawmakers urged residents to send comments and questions to the state agency. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.
