Environmental group reacts to Youngkin pulling Virginia out of EV mandate

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Environmental groups are criticizing Governor Glenn Youngkin for his decision to pull Virginia out of a mandate that would have required all new vehicles sold in Virginia to be electric by 2035.

“The American Lung Association says Virginians could avoid $30 billion in healthcare costs and 2,700 premature deaths from tailpipe pollution if we have advanced clean car standards,” Cheri Conca with the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club told 8News.

Youngkin said he pulled Virginia out of the clean car standards tied to California because Virginians should have the personal freedom to choose the car they want to drive.

“If you want to buy an electric vehicle, buy one. If you want to buy a hybrid, buy one. If you want to buy a gas-powered engine, an internal combustion engine, buy one,” Youngkin said last week.

Plus, Youngkin says the mandate — which would have required 35% of new cars sold in Virginia to be electric in 2026 — is simply unrealistic.

“When today 9% of automobiles in Virginia that are purchased are electric vehicles, to turn around and mandate that 35% of them have to be electric vehicles imposes an extraordinary economic burden on our dealers and on Virginians,” Youngkin said.

However, Conca says that pollution disproportionately affects low-income communities and the climate crisis needs to be addressed before it’s too late.

“Honestly, I think the healthcare benefits — the benefits for them — are worth a lot more than the monetary benefits to the automakers and the gasoline industry,” Conca said.

Youngkin’s decision to pull Virginia out of the mandate will likely be met with legal challenges. Democrats say because the General Assembly approved Virginia’s participation in the mandate, Youngkin can’t pull Virginia out without the General Assembly’s approval.