PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 21, 2024
Maine officials asked a state judge Friday to dismiss a lawsuit by environmentalists accusing the state of failing to meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by not adopting a policy to boost the sales of electric vehicles. The Department of Environmental Protection is not required by law to adopt a policy expanding electric vehicle use and its “alleged failure or refusal” to adopt the policy is discretionary and not subject to judicial review, the state said in its response to an April 22 lawsuit by the Conservation Law Foundation, Sierra Club and Maine Youth Action. Emily K. Green, senior attorney for CLF, said in a statement that the state “would be better served by spending its time and resources to implement our climate law.