Delaware State News Mission Story for March 2023

 

One of the most contentious issues presently in Delaware relates to zero emission vehicles.

If a proposed mandate follows the plan, you will not be able to buy a new gas-powered car 12 years from now. The Delaware State News saw a need to give readers, particularly those unaware of this issue, an insightful look at what has been planned.

 It has been just over a year since Gov. John Carney announced plans to adopt California’s zero-emission vehicle regulations in Delaware. Since his announcement last March, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has held numerous public workshops regarding the proposed changes, which would mandate a gradual push toward all new vehicles sold in the state being electric by 2035.

 Should Delaware officially adopt the new standards, the initiative would take effect in 2026 for model year 2027 and require that 35% of new car sales be zero tailpipe-emission vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

 Following his first story on zero-emission vehicles on March 12, reporter Joe Edelen dug deeper with these stories:

• Delaware agencies engaged in building out electric vehicle infrastructure
• Vo-techs preparing for zero-emission vehicle mandate in Delaware
• Delaware lawmakers set town halls on potential zero-emission mandate
• State officials say clean cars would aid goal of shrinking greenhouse gas emissions

And, the issue has led to some interesting commentaries on our opinion pages:

 Point/Counterpoint: Electric vehicle plan: A healthy move, or a ‘forced transition’?

• Let’s be clear about what Advanced Clean Cars II will and won’t do
• Lawmaker disputes electric vehicle plan as unneeded ‘mandate’

Commentary: Does Delaware’s electric vehicle proposal make sense?