Vermont Reverses Course On EV Sales Targets

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Phil Scott is the Republican governor of Vermont, a state that is known for its iconoclastic politicians, like Bernie Sanders. Vermonters take their obligations to sustainability and a clean environment seriously. People who live there tend to prefer Birkenstocks and Volvos, although Subarus are quite popular as well.

Here’s an example of where Vermont stands when it comes to having a social conscience. As we reported a year ago, Vermont is the first state in the nation to have a series of bike trails suitable for the adaptive bikes that cater to the needs of the disabled. In all, there are 11 trails with a total distance of three miles. As my colleague Jennifer Sensiba pointed out, the new trails are open to both abled and disabled riders and equally enjoyable to both groups.

In December 2022, Vermont adopted the Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus rules set forth in Section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act. Those rules require original equipment manufacturers of passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium- to heavy-duty trucks to sell an increasing percentage of zero emission vehicles starting in model year 2026, with the percentage ratcheting upward in the years to follow.

The package of rules was developed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as part of the EPA waiver in effect for over 25 years that allows California to promulgate its own emissions rules, so long as they are at least as stringent as federal standards. Over a dozen states have adopted the CARB regulations and made them part of their own state regulations, Vermont being one of those states.

The rules are intended to protect residents of the Green Mountain State from breathing the fine particulates and oxides of nitrogen that spew forth from the tailpipes of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Fine particulates are so small they pass directly into the bloodstream in human lungs. They then get circulated to all the organs of the body, including the brain. They also find their way into the placentas of pregnant women. Oxides of nitrogen have been said to give human lungs something equivalent to a sunburn and are thought to play a role in the incidence of asthma.

Vermont Rolls Back Exhaust Emissions Rules

On May 13, 2025, Scott signed executive order 04-25, which directs the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to pause enforcement of the ACC II and ACT rules until the end of 2026. Scott was very apologetic about taking this action, telling the citizens of Vermont in a heartfelt statement accompanying his executive order, “I continue to believe we should be incentivizing Vermonters to transition to cleaner energy options like electric vehicles. However, we have to be realistic about a pace that’s achievable. It’s clear we don’t have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy duty vehicles to meet current goals. We have much more work to do, in order make it more convenient, faster, and more affordable to buy, maintain and charge EVs. When we do, it’s more likely everyday Vermonters will make the switch.”

Translation: “I have fully embraced the nonsense being peddled by Republicans all across the United States and want no part of these rules, which are the product of the green new scam made possible by a woke mind virus. Some day in the future it might be the right time for EVs, but until then, we will not lift a finger in Vermont to promote cleaner vehicles.”

This is all especially sloppy thinking for the the leader of a state that has seen two of its most important cities — Montpelier and Burlington — inundated by historic floods in recent years. But, gosh, there just aren’t enough EV chargers available, so Vermonters will just have to put up with the deterioration of the environment for a while longer. What else can be done?

A separate paragraph in the press release announcing the governor’s cowardly retreat said, “Governor Scott remains committed to addressing climate change, including advocating for more charging infrastructure, which is key to supporting Vermonters in making EVs viable and reducing transportation emissions. When it comes to transitioning to a low-carbon future, mandates are not going to be the total answer. Using common sense and incentivizing technological advancements is necessary to overall success and this compliance flexibility is intended to reflect this reality.”

This is especially unfortunate because Vermont has been a strong supporter of the EV transition through its Replace Your Ride program, which provides incentives of up to $6,000 to electric car buyers, but there is a sweetener as well. If the buyer trades in an existing gasoline- or diesel-powered car, the program kicks in an additional $5,000. Whether that program will be rolled back was not mentioned in the press release.

It’s Not My Fault!

Scott was quick to blame the raging tariff chaos intimated by the failed president and his team composed of the worst and the dumbest minds in the nation. “Tariffs and other federal disruptions are increasing costs and causing supply chain uncertainty,” the text of the executive order proclaims. It also says “some manufacturers are shifting the burden” of the rules to local dealers, “by requiring ZEV sales before allowing internal combustion engine car and truck sales, which reduces the number and type of internal combustion engine cars and trucks available to Vermont dealerships and customers.”

Here we see another tribute to the lies cooked up in Washington that suggest people are being forced to purchase cars they don’t want at prices they can’t afford. That is rather like saying the passengers aboard the Titanic were forced against their will to use life jackets and life boats. We are in the middle of a full on climate emergency, which every Republican studiously avoids mentioning, or calls it a hoax if they do.

Electrive says that Republicans in Congress this very minute are plotting to eliminate the federal EV tax credit and advanced manufacturing loan programs that are part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. “It could be the case that states like Vermont and others are jumping before they’re pushed with measures such as these,” it says. That is certainly a strong possibility. It may also be part of a plan to curry favor with the Madman of Mar-A-Loco, who loves to punish those who refuse to “kiss my ass,” as he so eloquently puts it.

Maine Governor Janet Mills has defied him and her state has suffered the backlash of his wrath as a result. Perhaps Scott is just seeking to keep his state out of the line of fire.