State Environmental Advocates Support Biden Administration's Plans to Tighten Tailpipe Emissions

Friday, April 14th, 2023 -- 11:01 AM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) Environmental advocates in Wisconsin support the Biden administration’s plans to tighten tailpipe emissions as part of an effort to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles, but some in Wisconsin's auto industry question the technology and pace of the shift to electric cars.

According to Danielle Kaeding with the Wisconsin Public Radio, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits on vehicle emissions Wednesday that would require two-thirds of all new car and pickup truck sales and a quarter of heavy-duty trucks sold to be electric by 2032.

That's intended to meet President Joe Biden’s goal for electric cars to make up half of all new car sales by 2030. Nationally, electric vehicles made up nearly 6 percent of new car sales last year.

The announcement comes as Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin have introduced legislation to prevent state and local governments from barring the sale of vehicles based on their energy source. So far, seven states plan to ban sales of gas-powered vehicles after 2035.

Lawmakers and supporters say preventing such a ban in this state preserves consumer choice. Opponents say it’s a step backwards. The bill contradicts the state’s clean energy plan released by Gov. Tony Evers last year, which called for supporting the shift to vehicles that have fewer or no emissions.

An Evers' spokesperson didn't return a request for comment Tuesday on whether the governor would veto the proposal.

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