PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 9, 2024
Minority Republicans in the Legislature promised Tuesday to make a campaign issue this fall of electric vehicles, insisting that voters should decide whether state legislators, appointed environmental officials – or anyone – should remake private transportation in Maine. A top Democratic lawmaker also opposes the EV rule sought by the environmentalists’ petition, but he supports the use of EVs. Senate President Troy Jackson “supports the use of electric vehicles and policies that help our state respond to the very real health, economic and environmental threats posed by climate change.” However, the technology and a sufficient number of charging stations do “not exist equitably” in Maine and Jackson, D-Aroostook, prefers an approach that incentivizes Mainers to make the switch “as opposed to mandating it.”