Vermont Governor Phil Scott has issued an executive order effectively halting a rule that would have required 35% of all vehicles delivered to car dealers to be zero-emission starting in 2026. Scott cited the state’s lack of charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles as reasons for the decision.
The rule, adopted from California’s emissions standards, was part of Vermont’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, which is the largest contributor to carbon pollution in the state. Seventeen other states have also adopted these California standards.
Scott stated that while he believes Vermonters should be incentivized to transition to cleaner energy options like electric vehicles, the state must be realistic about the pace of this transition. Climate advocates, however, see this move as a significant setback for Vermont’s climate goals.
“Without an assurance that manufacturers are actually going to deliver electric vehicles to Vermont and Vermonters, there simply isn’t any way that we can get where we need to go on reducing climate pollution here in Vermont,” said Ben Walsh from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.
The executive order also postpones Vermont’s compliance with another California rule that creates zero-emission mandates for heavy-duty trucks. Auto dealers in Vermont have welcomed the news, as they believe the mandate would have harmed their businesses by reducing the number of vehicles manufacturers send to the state.
Matt Cota of the Vermont Vehicle and Automotive Distributors Association noted that demand for electric vehicles in Vermont is currently low, with only about 14% of new cars registered last year being zero-emission. He suggested that manufacturers would likely comply with the original mandate by sending fewer total vehicles to Vermont dealers, potentially harming local businesses.
The decision has sparked debate between climate advocates and auto dealers, highlighting the challenges Vermont faces in balancing environmental goals with economic and infrastructure realities.
