A formal proposal would ban the sale of new gas-powered and gas-electric hybrid vehicles by 2035 statewide.
The state Department of Ecology is taking public comments on this until Oct. 19.
Submit comments online, by mail or at the public hearing. A shortlink to the comment page is www.tinyurl.com/EcologyComment
By postal mail, send to:
Adam Saul
Department of Ecology
Air Quality Program
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Public hearing
Ecology will hold an online public hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 on Zoom. A shortlink to register for the hearing is www.tinyurl.com/EcologyZoom
Gov. Jay Inslee announced plans late last month to phase out new gas vehicle sales by 2035, mirroring a similar move by California.
Neither state’s regulation would impede used car sales.
In addition to requiring 100% zero-emission vehicles for new car sales by 2035, the proposed rules would adopt California’s rules for cleaner heavy-duty engines, implement early-action credits for zero-emission vehicle sales in model years 2023 and 2024 and institute a one-time fleet reporting requirement.
Some automakers have publicly announced their intent to sell only electric vehicles, including General Motors (by 2035; with Buick and Cadillac going all-electric by 2030), Volvo (by 2030), Mercedes-Benz (by 2030), Toyota (by 2040), plus the Chrysler brand going all-electric by 2028 and Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln brand going all-electric by 2030.
Last year, a state ban on gas cars from 2030 onward failed. Inslee vetoed that because that bill tied the 2030 deadline as being triggered only if a per-mile road usage fee for transportation funding was in place. The state is still exploring a road fee system, but Inslee said in his veto that the two topics shouldn’t be intermingled.
