PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 24, 2024
The Maine Climate Council is wrestling with how Maine can meet its ambitious long-term emission reduction goals despite slow electric vehicle adoption rates and the high cost of making climate programs accessible to its most vulnerable residents. In 1990, Maine produced 31.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. By state law, Maine must reduce that by 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. As of 2021, the last data available, Maine had achieved a 30% reduction from its 1990 emissions. The easiest way for Maine to do this is to ensure that 53% of new passenger cars and 17.5% of new heavy-duty vehicles sold in Maine are electric by 2030. But the Board of Environmental Protection rejected a mandate to boost electric and hybrid car sales last year after critics claimed Maine lacked the charging infrastructure to support it, prompting state lawmakers to assume jurisdiction over Maine’s tailpipe emission regulations.