Virginia’s governor and its attorney general say the state won’t follow California’s vehicle emissions standards next year.
In a new opinion from AG Jason Miyares, the Republican states – “Virginians are no longer legally bound to follow the emissions standards of California.” Instead, he says the Commonwealth will follow more lenient, federal guidelines beginning on January 1st.
In 2021, Virginia lawmakers passed legislation calling for the adoption of California’s stricter emissions standards. That includes a requirement that all vehicles sold here be electric by model year 2035.
Governor Glenn Youngkin says the California standards discount the electric vehicle supply chain's ties to China. He also says keeping them would come with steep financial burdens for Virginia dealers and consumers.
“The new regs that are going into place in California would penalize the system. $20,000 for every single car that was below the threshold,” he says.
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell is upset Governor Glenn Youngkin is sidestepping the legislature.
“We fought a war in 1776 to ensure that a governor doesn’t have these kinds of powers," the Democrat says. "He does not have the power to declare what the law is or what it isn’t.”
Several environmental groups – including the Southern Environmental Law Center – have also denounced the decision. In a statement, officials with that group called the move illegal and said, “we’ll take every action to ensure the Clean Cars standards remain in place.”
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
