Maine officials slow process to adopt California-style bans on sale of gas-powered vehicles

Maine officials who were prepared to adopt California-style bans on the sale of gas-powered vehicle will reportedly ask the state’s legislature to review the proposed ban.

The news comes a week after the Maine Board of Environmental Protects because of a massive power outage canceled a meeting in which the rules were expected to be adopted.

The board will now recommend the Legislature change state laws to require that rules regarding motor vehicles be considered “major substantive” changes requiring lawmakers’ review.

Under current state regulations, changes that are deemed “routine technical” changes can be handled by a state agency.

Under the proposed EV mandate that would have been voted at a Dec. 21 meeting were it not for the power outages, standards for low-emission vehicles sales would go into effect in 2027. By the 2032 model year, 82% of all new vehicles sold in Maine would need to be zero emissions.