The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today unveiled new stricter limits on tailpipe pollution from cars and trucks that will deliver cleaner air, reduce carbon pollution, and pave the way toward broader adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Maine, according to the state’s leading environmental advocacy organization.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine released the following statement from Climate & Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro regarding the new tailpipe emissions standards:
“Setting strict limits on pollution from cars and trucks will protect the air we breathe and ensure that the U.S. remains competitive well into the future. It’s a necessary step to avoid the worst impacts of climate change that are already being felt in Maine and across the nation.
More Mainers than ever are interested in electric cars and trucks because they save on fuel costs, help tackle climate change, and are fun to drive. Automakers must move with more urgency to keep up with demand so people can free themselves from expensive fossil fuels and have more choices when they shop for new or used cars.”
NRCM’s 2022 survey of Maine EV owners showed that 79% of them save $25 per month in fuel costs. Nearly 100% (99%) of those surveyed said their EV is reliable, and 97% said their EV is affordable and easy to maintain.
Maine’s bipartisan emissions reduction targets and statewide Climate Action Plan are already improving people’s quality of life, helping reduce heating costs, and bringing record amounts of solar energy online.
A proposed goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040 would build on this progress by providing more of the reliable, affordable, home-grown clean energy needed to power buildings and vehicles.
