The U.S. House yesterday voted to repeal California’s authority to set similar rules for truck sales; a vote on revoking the state’s ability to implement the light-duty vehicle regulations is slated for today. And opposition has cropped up in the states as well: Last year, refinery workers in New Jersey and Delaware protested the rules, with some attendees inaccurately saying ACC II would ban gas-powered cars. In Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore last month issued an executive order delaying penalties for noncompliance by two years.
Massachusetts advocacy groups are now hustling to make the case that their state should not be the next to waver.
Despite the gap between current sales and the ACC II target, advocates are confident that demand will grow to meet the numbers set out in the regulations. Interest in electric vehicles has steadily risen in recent years: Light-duty EV purchases in Massachusetts rose nearly 50% in 2023 compared with the year prior, though growth slowed in 2024.
“This [opposition] is not coming from consumers. It is coming from companies that are not eager to meet the moment,” Advanced Energy United’s Burnham told Canary Media.
The regulations are also unlikely to limit consumer choices, supporters contend. New gas-powered cars will still be in the mix until 2035, and even then, used gas-powered cars will be available for many years to come. Plus, zero-emissions options are only increasing: There are now 144 different electric models for sale in the U.S., and more are likely to come as ACC II drives up adoption, proponents said.
“There are plenty of light-duty passenger vehicles that are great options,” said Anna Vanderspek, electric vehicle program director for the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. “There is really no way automakers can make an argument that they can’t comply with these regulations.”
Furthermore, Massachusetts has a strong system of electric vehicle incentives and programs that will support the transition, advocates said. A state rebate program offers from $3,500 to $6,000 to drivers buying new or used EVs. The state has also invested in the planning and development of charging infrastructure in recent years.
“There is so much programming and infrastructure there to make it happen,” Burnham said. “There is really a handful of automakers who have procrastinated on preparing, but we can’t afford to procrastinate any longer.”
A correction was made on May 1, 2025: This story originally misattributed a statement to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The statement was issued by the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.