Maine's top environmental regulator recently rejected a proposed state electric vehicle (EV) mandate, deviating from climate concerns raised by environmental groups and Democrats. The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) voted against the Advanced Clean Cars program, which aimed to enforce regulations similar to California's standards, requiring that 51% of new car purchases in the state be electric by 2028 and 82% by 2032.
The decision came after the BEP received significant opposition from stakeholders and citizens, with nearly 84% of the 1,800 public comments received expressing disapproval of the EV mandate. Concerns were raised about Maine's rural nature, limited charging infrastructure, and the reliability of electric vehicles in extreme cold weather conditions.
