DEEP To Hold Hearings on Proposed Electric Vehicle Regulations

Hartford — The state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is accepting written comments on two proposed regulations, one that would ban the sales of new gas-powered passenger cars (beginning in 2035) and another that would gradually prohibit the sale of new gas-powered trucks that are used to ship goods and provide essential services.

This raises many other familiar but critical questions about electric procurement, grid resiliency, and charging infrastructure.

I have significant concerns about the unintended consequences of the proposed bans, including their impact on businesses and residents, as well as the finances of many who are already grappling with costs associated with living in one of the nation’s most energy-expensive states.

Artificially creating this market depends on many external factors for the environmental goals to be successful. he elements for the batteries are mined, mostly by children working in horrid conditions in the Congo, while destroying the environment of that country. The reality is you are just switching emission from tailpipe to smokestack.

A Public Hearing for passenger vehicles (PR 2023-023) will take place on August 22, 2023 at 9:00 am.

Hearing Link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/j/81807291329

All persons interested in providing comments at the hearing must register at:

https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld-6qpzopGN1HeEa0hX8pIHIl_2O3jWCm

A Public Hearing for Medium and heavy duty trucks (PR 2023-020) will take place on August 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm.

Hearing Link: https://ctdeep.zoom.us/j/87125048941

All persons interested in providing comments at the hearing must register at:

https://ctdeep.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsdeyoqjMjHtX7jJG4FmIJTY8mCelygD1Q

A 2035 ban on the sales of all gas-powered passenger vehicles is just 12-years away. I’ve seen no evidence that Connecticut will be ready to accommodate this aggressive timeline. A simple promise that our already-vulnerable electrical grid—and ratepayers—will be ready to absorb this seismic policy change is pure ideological fantasy.

You can submit your written comments to DEEP by August 23rd. Below is information on both regulatory proposals and associated comment links.

You can access the proposed regulations on cars by clicking here.