Massachusetts plans to require car sales to be electric-powered by 2035

Massachusetts has the intention of having all new car sales to be electric-powered by 2035.

Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides issued a clean energy and climate plan for 2030 at the end of the year which sets a goal of zero net emissions by 2050.

The plan is in conjunction with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in late December by Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. committing to a program that will reduce motor vehicle pollution by at least 26 percent and generate over $1.8 billion in Massachusetts by 2032 which is also expected to raise gas prices.

In addition to the elimination of new gas powered cars by 2035, MassDEP will also work with 16 other jurisdictions pursuant to the Zero Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding and Action Plan to provide a framework for achieving 30% of all new truck and bus sales being electric by 2030 and overall zero net emissions by 2050 with 100% electric.

The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles program, administered by DOER, currently provides consumers a $2,500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new BEV or FCEV and a $1,500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new PHEV. Coupled with the federal tax credit, these incentives allow consumers to purchase many electric vehicle models with up to $10,000 in rebates.

Massachusetts has set its Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction target for the next decade at a 45% reduction below the 1990 level in 2030.

The report states that Massachusetts has and will continue to set equivalent regulations to match California’s Advanced Clean Cars Program, which includes GHG emissions standards, criteria pollutant emissions standards, and ZEV sales requirements.