PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 7, 2022
Gov. Mills’ office would not, it said, be taking a leaf out of the books of states like California, which plans to phase out and ultimately ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. In lieu of a new top-down, statewide strategy, municipalities across Maine are coming up with tailor-made initiatives to promote and incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles and other equipment. The city of South Portland just joined Auburn, Bangor and Presque Isle, to name a few, in introducing an electric technology rebate program. The Mills administration has said it plans to add more than 200,000 electric vehicles to our roads by 2030. It’s an ambitious target – right now, there are just 7,000 – that will require very specific and very accessible incentives (and even then, in light of chronic supply chain trouble, a bit of luck).