Following on the heels of California’s recent adoption of rules requiring that only 100% electric vehicles be sold in the state by 2035, Oregon quietly convened a rulemaking group to consider the same standards for Oregon. Under Oregon’s proposed rules, the state would follow California in requiring that by year 2035, any new light or medium duty vehicles (cars, light trucks and SUVs) would be 100% electric, either fully electric or hybrid. The state is also proposing to fund community-based organizations to purchase vehicles for ride sharing and car sharing programs.

The rulemaking advisory committee is accepting initial comment on these proposed rules from the public through September 7th. You can submit comments through this email address by Wednesday, September 7th:

Here is the email address:
LevZev2022@deq.oregon.gov

Here is the page:

Department of Environmental Quality : Advanced Clean Cars II : Rulemaking at DEQ : State of Oregon

While existing vehicles, farm equipment and heavy-duty vehicles will not be subject to this rule, we anticipate that the state would eventually try to ban the sale of used vehicles and subject heavy duty vehicles to the standards as soon as more electric options become available.

We oppose this rule for several reasons. Chief among these is that the cost of electric vehicles, which remains much higher than their fuel-based counterparts, is out of reach for many farm families, who are seeing ever slimmer margins in the face of increased regulatory pressures from the state. Further, this rule requires electrification before the infrastructure is available, particularly in rural areas, to support electric vehicles, particularly for work trucks that are used exclusively in remote areas of the state, miles from any charging station. Most farms and ranches do not have EV charging capacity on farm, and do not have the resources to install such facilities. This rule represents another burden on rural communities from an agency who fails to understand the different vehicle needs in rural areas than urban areas, where charging infrastructure is more readily available.

Please write in TODAY to urge DEQ not to adopt California’s anti-rural 100% electric vehicle standards. Comments are due no later than September 7th. And please remember that agencies like DEQ are subject to the governor’s direction – it has never been more important that you show up to vote than this November!