BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 11, 2023
The Maine Board of Environmental Protection is set to vote on a controversial rule aimed at phasing out new sales of gas-powered cars and boosting electric vehicle adoption. The Dec. 21 vote will come after months of passionate debate and feedback on the plan the Natural Resources Council of Maine and several allies proposed through a provision in state law allowing citizens to ask agencies to adopt or change rules if at least 150 registered voters sign a petition. The “Advanced Clean Cars II” plan would require battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to make up 43 percent of new car sales for 2027 models and 82 percent of new sales by model year 2032. It would not require anyone to give up current vehicles, nor would it apply to used car sales.