In a recent policy shift, Virginia is planning to abandon the California emissions standards on vehicles that it first adopted in 2021. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, announced the decision, stating that government mandates on the types of cars people can purchase are “fundamentally wrong.”
“Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses,” Youngkin said in a statement. “The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”
Under California’s emissions regulations, Virginia would have required 22% of new vehicles sold in the commonwealth to be electric or hybrid by 2025, increasing to 35% in 2026, and 100% come 2035.
The standards were initially implemented when the state’s government was controlled entirely by Democratic leadership. Now, Youngkin, a Republican, is charting a new course.
“To be very clear, this is not a statement around electric vehicles,” the governor said. “I am very supportive of Virginians buying electric vehicles, but I want Virginians to make that decision for themselves.”
Virginia’s Democratic Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell released a statement accusing Youngkin of “reckless, illegal and unconstitutional actions” regarding the move.
Surovell added that “even Vladimir Putin does not claim to have this much power.” The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) also criticized Youngkin’s decision, calling it “illegal, shortsighted and bad public policy.”
However, public opinion in Virginia appears to generally favor Youngkin’s position.
A 2023 poll found that only 9% of Virginians strongly supported adopting California’s standards. About 56% of respondents strongly agreed that Virginia should establish its own regulations independently of California.
