STATES ARE EMBRACING CLEAN CARS

The states below are leading the charge to bring more electric vehicles to market through legislative and administrative action, including by adopting the Advanced Clean Cars standard (ACC II).

CA

NJ

CO

MT

DE

NY

MD

OR

HI

PA

IL

RI

ME

IA

UT

DC

VT

MA

VA

MN

WA

NM

CT

CALIFORNIA

In August 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously adopted the ACC II rule, a common-sense tool to cut climate and air pollution while reducing reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels. 

Resources:

COLORADO

On February 16, Governor Murphy announced plans to adopt ACC II. On October 20, 2023, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted unanimously to adopt ACC II.

Resources:

CONNECTICUT

Regulators in Connecticut are examining the ACC II rule and working towards an official rulemaking process in 2023.

DELAWARE

On March 3, 2022, Governor Carney announced plans to adopt ACC II. On November 29, 2023, Delaware’s Department of Nature Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) announced finalization of the ACC II standard.

Resources:

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The District of Columbia proposed the adoption of the ACC II rule on December 9, 2022 and completed a public comment process on January 9, 2023. DC’s Department of Energy & Environment finalized adoption of ACCII at the end of 2023.

HAWAII

Although Hawaii has not yet adopted any vehicle regulations under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, the state is among the group of 15 states (plus DC) that signed the zero-emission vehicle MOU.

ILLINOIS

Illinois and other Midwest states are moving to adopt tough new standards to reduce pollution, benefiting the region’s health and reducing global warming pollution-while also improving the area’s economy.

Clean cars advocates continue to encourage Illinois’ governor and state regulators to take up the ACCII standards to cut tailpipe pollution in Illinois.

Resources:

IOWA

In August 2018, Iowa joined 18 other states and Washington, DC in suing the Trump Administration for its plans to roll back and revise vehicle emissions standards. 

In February 2009, Rep. Nathan Reichert, D-Muscatine, proposed House File 422. Under the bill, the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission would set emissions standards mirroring California’s Clean Cars Law beginning with the 2011 model year. The bill did not make it out of committee.

MAINE

Regulators in Maine are examining the ACC II rule and working towards an official rulemaking process in 2023.

Resources:

MARYLAND

On March 13, 2023, the Maryland Air Quality Control Advisory Council voted unanimously to direct the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to adopt ACC II. MDE officially adopted ACCII on September 18, 2023.

MASSACHUSETTS

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) officially adopted ACCII on March 30, 2023.

Resources:

MINNESOTA

In 2007, Minnesota introduced legislation to adopt the Clean Cars law. Throughout the spring of 2008, clean car advocates fought a well-funded auto industry campaign against the Clean Cars legislation.

In 2022, the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association filed a lawsuit to block implementation of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s clean car standards. The case was appealed up to the Supreme Court of the United States, which declined to take it up, leaving Minnesota (and other states’) ability to regulate tailpipe emissions under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act intact.

MONTANA

Under the direction of Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Montana issued its Climate Change Action Plan in Fall 2007. Developed by the state’s Climate Change Advisory Committee, the plan highlighted 54 policy recommendations that are designed to help reduce Montana’s GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Among the recommendations are the Clean Cars standard.

NEW JERSEY

On February 16, 2023, Governor Murphy announced plans to adopt ACC II. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) kicked off their stakeholder process for ACC II adoption with a virtual meeting on March 13, 2023. ACCII was officially adopted on November 21, 2023.

Resources:

Report: New Jersey Advanced Clean Cars II Program by ERM (commissioned by NRDC and Sierra Club)

NEW MEXICO

On January 29, 2019, New Mexico Governor  Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order creating a climate change task force that will weigh policies such as considering vehicle emission standards.

In the spring of 2022, New Mexico adopted the Advanced Clean Cars I program through vehicle model years 2025.

After a four-day hearing, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board voted to adopt ACC II on November 16, 2023.

Resources:

NEW YORK

New York adopted ACC II in 2022 through emergency rulemaking.

Resources:

OREGON

On December 19th, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality adopted the ACC II rule.

Resources:

PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania agreed in 1998 to follow California’s lead in motor vehicle standards. On September 19, 2006, Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board approved a plan to begin meeting the California standards beginning in 2008. On November 2, 2006, the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) voted to approve implementation of the plan. Pennsylvania adopted the Low-Emission Vehicle Program component of the Advanced Clean Cars I rule in 2001.

Resources:

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island adopted the California motor vehicle standards in late 2005 and updated its rules in December 2012 to reflect California’s 2012 revisions.

Resources

UTAH

As a member of the Western Climate Initiative, Utah has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 2005 levels by 2020. Among the policy measures the state is developing to meet the goal is the Clean Cars standard. Utah identified its policy options through a Blue Ribbon Advisory Council, which delivered its proposals in Fall 2007.

VERMONT

In November 2022, the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules for Vermont officially approved adoption of the ACC II rules. The ACC II rule went into effect on December 16, 2022.

Resources:

  • Press Release: Vermont Natural Resources Council published apress release on December 1, 2022.

VIRGINIA

In 2021, Virginia passed a law to adopt ACC I and required Virginia to automatically adopt updates to the regulation. As a result, Virginia automatically adopted the ACC II rule in 2022. However, the governor has voiced his opposition to zero-emission vehicle regulations and could roll back the rule. Supporters of clean transportation continue to fight legislative attacks on Virginia’s participation in the ACCII program.

WASHINGTON

The Washington Department of Ecology adopted the ACC II rule on December 19th, 2022.

Resources: