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| Washington state plans to ban the sale of petrol cars |
Lawmakers in Washington state have passed a measure to halt sales of fuel-powered cars from 2030, adopting the Clean Car 2030 initiative as an amendment to a law that requires utility companies to prepare for the future of electric cars.
The bill now awaits Gov. Jay Inslee's signature.
The date is five years before the proposed bans on cars in California and Massachusetts, and the first car bans were passed by law, not by order of the executive branch.
The Washington Senate approved the bill by 25 votes to 23, 54 to 43 in the House of Representatives.
The bill bans the sale, purchase, or registration of 2030 and later non-electric vehicles and includes vehicles purchased in another state that were brought into Washington state.
According to the law, the "2030 clean cars" measure is based on a state-approved kilometer tax, which can be used to pay for the state's new transportation infrastructure.
Although the plan has a direct name, 2030 is not a clear clause in the law, but "Clean Car 2030" is an amendment to E2SHB 1287. E2SHB 1287 is a government law that requires companies to prepare for changes on the ground. Lots of electric cars.
The government can use the VMT to raise money to pay road tolls in place of fuel taxes, and electric vehicle drivers do not pay these fees.
The "Clean Car 2030" initiative is an important step for Washington to achieve its carbon dioxide reduction goals and can serve as a model and motivation for other countries to accelerate their transition to electric cars.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law last September banning sales of new internal combustion engines in the state from 2035 as part of a series of policy reforms to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
This measure applies to new car sales in the state and does not prevent California residents from owning gasoline-powered cars.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a plan in December to ban new fuel-powered cars by 2035 as part of the state's carbon decarbonization roadmap for 2050.