New Jersey bans the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035

TRENTON, NJ (AP) — New Jersey will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 as part of an effort to improve air quality and reduce planet-warming pollutants, officials said. officials Tuesday.

A rule that takes effect Jan. 1 commits the state to eventually moving toward zero-emission vehicles, the state Department of Environmental Protection said in a news release.

It is one of several states to do so, including California, Vermont, New York, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Virginia, Rhode Island, Maryland and Connecticut, according to Coltura, an organization non-profit based in Seattle that advocates for an end to this practice. use of gasoline vehicles.

New Jersey will begin limiting the amount of new gas-powered cars that can be sold in the state starting in 2027, eventually reaching zero in 2035.

The move does not prohibit the ownership or use of gasoline-powered cars nor does it require consumers to purchase electric vehicles, the DEP said. It will not ban the sale of used gasoline-powered cars, and consumers will still be free to purchase gasoline-powered cars elsewhere and import them into New Jersey, as long as they meet certain standards. broadcasts.

“The actions we take today to reduce emissions will improve air quality and mitigate climate impacts for generations to come, while increasing access to cleaner car choices,” said Phil Murphy , Democratic governor of the state.

“Cleaner cars and trucks mean cleaner air for our children and families, because our own vehicle exhaust is a leading cause of poor local air quality,” said Shawn LaTourette, state environmental protection commissioner. “As New Jersey transitions to a future of zero-emission vehicles, we will improve our quality of life and our public health. At the same time, we will reduce climate pollutants from the transportation sector, the largest source of pollution contributing to global warming in New Jersey and the nation.

The rule has drawn strong opposition from business groups since word that the state was moving to implement it began circulating earlier this year.

Ray Cantor, an official with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, said more than 100 business, labor and other groups have sent nearly 10,000 letters to state lawmakers “asking them to intervene to stop a proposed DEP rule that will ultimately dictate what type of automobile residents can drive, and in some cases, whether they can afford to do so.

“This ban on selling new gasoline cars in such an accelerated time frame does not take into account costs or feasibility,” he said. “This does not take into account the lack of local and road infrastructure. It does not take into account network capacity. It ignores consumer choice. This does not take into account New Jersey residents, particularly low- and moderate-income families.

Environmental groups welcomed the move.

“This is a big victory not only for the environment, but also for public health and the communities who suffer every day from pollution from congested roads,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

“The electric vehicle revolution is upon us, and the benefits are far-reaching, even for those who never consider getting behind the wheel of an electric vehicle,” added Kathy Harris, head of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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