SEATTLE — The Washington Department of Ecology is currently working through the specifics of what it will take to meet a ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in the state starting in 2035.
That includes reviewing public comments, drafting responses and determining if changes need to be made to proposed rules on a number of measures meant to accelerate the use of zero-emission vehicles in Washington.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced earlier this year the state would be adopting regulations set in California which will eventually ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars. Washington lawmakers also recently passed a bill setting targets for electric vehicle sales by 2030.
Seattle-based environmental nonprofit Coltura worked toward the passage of new rules in California and is pushing for their adoption here.
"We strongly support them, they're a big step forward," Coltura Founder and Co-Executive Director Matthew Metz said. "They're going to push the automakers to make great vehicles available in every single category for people, they're going to push us to get the charging we need, and it's really going to get Washington on track to having a very clean transportation system."
A broad spectrum of people, groups and businesses weighed in on the state's plans. Public comment included support from groups such as the Sierra Club, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Coltura; it also included opposition by agencies including the Washington Trucking Association, the Yakima County Farm Bureau and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA).
"We're actually not opposed to EVs and a number of our members are involved in charging stations, renewable and sustainable energy and lower carbon fuels and energy we want to bring to the market in Washington," WSPA Vice President of Strategic Communications Kevin Slagle said. "But we want to do this in a realistic way... that's not on the backs of consumers."
A recent WA Poll showed around 48% of respondents somewhat or strongly opposed a ban on sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, while around 38% of respondents somewhat or strongly supported it.
Slagle said he was not surprised by the results and says it indicates a need for a broader conversation.
"I think up front we need to understand the cost, we need to understand the timing of infrastructure, and elected leaders need to be honest with what that means for everyday transportation and what's best for their family," Slagle said.
Coltura pointed to other polls showing broader support for regulations accelerating a transition to zero-emission vehicles, including one it co-commissioned.
"A lot of it is just education, they don't understand electric vehicles very well, and then there's also been a lot of propaganda telling them, electric vehicles can't go far or you can't charge them," Metz said. "And those things really aren't true but they have a lot of muscle behind them, the propaganda or the messaging."
The Department of Ecology said after working through the next steps, the Clean Vehicles rule will likely be adopted in December.