Roundup: Final Clean Cars Standards Repeal Bill is Defeated!
Big win for Virginia’s Environment!
Electric vehicle charging in downtown Richmond
In 2021, the General Assembly took an important step forward to reduce vehicle pollution by adopting the Clean Cars Standards (HB1965; Bagby). The Clean Cars Standards ramp up air pollution protections and will bring both cleaner gas-powered vehicles and a greater variety of electric vehicles to the Commonwealth. The Virginia Conservation Network and our Partners support the Clean Car Standards because they protect public health, increase consumer choice, increase electric vehicle affordability, and reduce pollution.
Statements from the Conservation Community
This General Assembly session, the Virginia Conservation Network opposed a series of seven bills attempting to repeal or undermine the Clean Car Standards. On February 14th, 2023, the Senate ACNR committee defeated the last Clean Car Standards repeal bill (HB1378)! Virginia Conservation Network Partners released the following statements. Check back for more statements.
Last updated: February 15th.
Virginia Conservation Network
“Two years ago, our community fought hard to make sure that transportation, Virginia’s top source of carbon pollution, was put on the path towards a healthier, greener future of electric vehicles. The Senate deserves a big round of applause today for delivering such a clear win for the climate and public health.” – Wyatt Gordon, Senior Policy Manager – Land Use & Transportation
“The seven bills introduced this session to repeal the Clean Cars Standards have now all been defeated. We applaud the legislators who recognize the key role these standards play in curbing Virginia’s largest source of carbon pollution. Clean air should not be a partisan issue. We will all enjoy the health and environmental benefits these standards will bring.” – Trip Pollard, leader of SELC’s Land & Community Program
“It is with gratitude to our climate champions in the state Senate that I celebrate the death of this partisan attempt to undo one of Virginia’s crowning achievements on climate. Transportation accounts for more than half of our annual emissions. We cannot reach climate stability without significantly reducing vehicle pollution in the near-term, and the Clean Car Standards are a commonsense first step to doing so while bringing new economic opportunities to Virginia. But let us be clear: to truly bring vehicle pollution down to zero by mid-century, we also need to dramatically increase funding for transit, rail, and pedestrian infrastructure.” – Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director
Climate Cabinet
“Let’s make this clear: Virginia’s participation in the Clean Car standards have been secured this session because of the pro-climate majority in the state senate. These champions put tackling pollution and creating clean energy jobs ahead of the administration’s special interests – and Virginia will have a brighter future because of it.
However, the work does not stop once the legislative session ends. It’ll take a pro-climate majority in both chambers to end Governor Glenn Youngkin’s anti-climate agenda for good. Climate Cabinet will be there every step of the way. We stopped the assault against the state’s clean cars law during session, strengthened the pro-climate majority in the state senate, and now will work overtime to flip the Virginia House back to a majority that views fighting the climate crisis as a top priority. The fall’s elections are critical, and Climate Cabinet and its ‘Climate Slate’ champions are ready for the challenge ahead.” – Blair St. Ledger-Olson, Legislative Director
Environment Defense Fund
“Time after time, environmental champions in the legislature protected Virginians’ health and climate, defeating multiple attempts to repeal Virginia’s Clean Car Standards this session. Transportation is one of Virginia’s largest sources of harmful air pollution and climate pollution. Keeping Virginia’s Clean Car Standards will reduce pollution, save consumers money and deliver jobs.” – Mandy Warner, Virginia Director, Environmental Defense Fund
Environment Virginia
“Virginia’s Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee voted on Tuesday to kill the final bill of the 2023 General Assembly attempting to rollback Virginia’s clean car standards. The bill, HB1378, passed the House of Delegates while several similar bills introduced in the Virginia Senate previously failed in this Senate committee earlier in session. The bill would have rolled back a low-emission vehicle (LEV) and zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) program. These stronger regulations on tailpipe emissions reduce air pollution and lead to many more electric vehicles on the road.
Rolling back this program has unfortunately been a priority for the Youngkin administration and many Republicans since it passed in 2021. We thank the senators in this committee that have continued to protect Virginia’s landmark climate policies. The future is electric, and we are thrilled to see Virginia is continuing to move in that direction protecting our climate and our health.” – Elly Boehmer Wilson, Environment Virginia State Director on Climate Defense
Generation180
“Generation180 applauds the dedication of Virginia’s elected officials and the numerous groups working to protect the Commonwealth’s clean energy future. The Clean Car Standards are vital to ensuring the economic, climate, and health benefits provided by electric vehicles are available to all Virginians.” – Stuart Gardner, Program Director
Lynnhaven River NOW
“LRNow is grateful to the Virginia Senate for holding the line to support Virginia’s Clean Car Standards. Our Coastal Virginia communities bear the brunt of climate change-induced sea level rise, and reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses pumped into the atmosphere by automobile exhaust is a critical component of the larger effort to transition to a clean energy future. The very survival of our coastal communities depends upon strong legislative actions such as this.” – Karen Forget, Executive Director and Jim Deppe, Advocacy Coordinator
Natural Resources Defense Council
“Virginia’s Clean Cars law — because it guarantees that Virginians can access zero-emission electric cars in the state — safeguards public health, protects the communities most-impacted by vehicle pollution, and tackles climate change. And yet, Governor Youngkin has attacked the law — no matter what harm that causes to ordinary Virginians.
Thankfully, the Senate did not let the baseless attacks against the Clean Cars law stand, and the last bill died today. The Clean Cars law was enacted by Virginians, for Virginians. It’s common sense: our Clean Cars law ensures all Virginians have cleaner air and stronger pocketbooks.” – Walton Shepherd, Virginia Policy Director
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
“Thank you to the Senators and advocates who fought to maintain Virginia’s Clean Car Standards. Considering that tailpipe pollution is Virginia’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and unhealthy air pollution, the action these climate champions took is a win for Virginia’s residents and economy alike.” – Cheri Conca, Transportation & Smart Growth Manager
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
“While Governor Youngkin and his allies are busy attacking climate action and driving clean transportation jobs away to other states, Senate Democrats are standing up for our clean air, working to cut harmful tailpipe emissions, and bringing in-demand electric vehicles and economic investment to the Commonwealth. We are grateful that our champions in the Senate stood up for clean air by defeating these shortsighted attacks – efforts that will help us meet our climate goals while ensuring that Virginia continues to be seen as a leader in tackling harmful pollution.” – Michael Town, Executive Director