By John A. Charles, Jr.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is accepting public comments on proposed regulations that would ban the sale of new gasoline or diesel-powered cars and light trucks after 2034. The only new cars available would be electric vehicles (EVs).
These regulations were first adopted by the state of California on August 25. Now Kate Brown wants Oregonians to live under them as well.
There are many flaws in the proposed rules. First, the average cost of an EV last year was $66,000. Most people won’t be able to afford one.
Second, EVs need regular charging. The Oregon charging network barely exists, especially for apartment dwellers. This will make EVs inconvenient for most drivers.
Third, the primary reason for the regulation is to reduce “greenhouse gases” in Oregon, but the commercial electricity grid is powered mostly by fossil fuels and will be for decades. Shifting from internal combustion engines to electric motors will simply move vehicle-related emissions from cities to the countryside.
The rules will also prove to be unenforceable. While the government can require manufacturers to offer EVs for sale, it cannot force consumers to buy them. Traditional cars will continue to be available, either as used vehicles sold in Oregon, or new vehicles purchased by Oregonians from another state.
This proposal, which DEQ plans to adopt in December, is now being circulated for public comment. Voters should express their concerns to DEQ by email at the following address: [email protected]. Comments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21.
John A. Charles, Jr. is President and CEO of Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon’s free market public policy research organization.
Larry A Sparks
Kate Brown Executive Order to eliminate gas and diesel powered cars and trucks is unconstitutional. It must be challenged in court as restriction of fair trade and provident a monopoly to EV manufactures. There are no studies on huge carbon emission by EV cars & Trucks and very destructive environmental cost to the
to the environment to extract minerals for batteries. It may will prove that EV and charging stations due more damage to the environment than gas & diesel powered vehicles and trucks.
Fred Hauer
Greetings “Levzev”,
The odds of the subject goal being achieved are nil. Of course that doesn’t matter because the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if the proposed change could be achieved would be minuscule and even if achieved wouldn’t really matter since “reducing greenhouse gases” in the US as a whole let alone in Oregon is ridiculous in terms of affecting global climate.
I’ll conclude by noting that this plan that slavishly follows California over a cliff is stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, and imbecilic.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Regards,
Fred Hauer
Oregon voter