Connecticut shelves plan to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035 after facing bipartisan opposition

At a time when many Democrat-led states are opting to impose bans on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, Connecticut appears to be pumping the brakes this week after facing significant bipartisan opposition over the issue.

Democratic Governor Ned Lamont previously introduced a proposal that would require all new vehicles sold in Connecticut to produce zero emissions, banning fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Lamont's proposed regulations were under consideration by the Legislature's Regulation Review Committee, but he ultimately decided to withdraw the proposal after realizing there were not enough votes to advance the plan.

On Tuesday, the governor encouraged lawmakers to "reach across the aisle" to convince some of the "naysayers," the Center Square reported.

The committee will reconvene for a vote during the next legislative session, giving Lamont time to gather more supporters.

"I like these goals, I like these standards," he said. "I like to have a roadmap."

Over 230 people testified in August before the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection regarding the ban.

Democratic House Speaker Matt Ritter explained that affordability and technology issues need to be addressed before the plan could be adopted.

"They have to be worked on," Ritter said. "You have to show people, and demonstrate with actual science and showing dollars and cents how cars are becoming cheaper and where they're going to be."

House Republican Minority Leader Vincent Candelora agreed with Lamont's decision to withdraw the proposal, noting a "growing revolt from a diverse chorus of stakeholders with concerns ranging from electric grid capacity and reliability to the availability of charging stations and simple freedom of choice."

"My hope is that the Governor and legislative Democrats who desperately wanted this unreasonable ban will go back to the drawing board and develop a more realistic proposal that controls costs and protects consumer choice for Connecticut residents," Candelora added.

Democratic Senator Martin Looney stated, "We know that the gasoline-powered car is certainly on its way out. We will have all-electric vehicles in the future, and we want to make that future happen as soon as we can. We also have to make sure that it happens in an equitable way, not leaving any communities behind."

Democratic State Representative Anne Hughes, a supporter of Lament's ban, said she is "disappointed" with her colleagues.

"These standards are not radical or controversial. They are quite frankly the least we can do in the face of an urgent climate crisis," Hughes claimed.

Lori Brown, the executive director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, said, "It is not a good moment for Connecticut to be the only state in our region that has pulled back on these regulations."

Just last month, New Jersey adopted a similar plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, a plan that was originally introduced and approved by California last year. Vermont, New York, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Maryland have also implemented similar policies.

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