Augusta (Portland Press Herald) – The launch of proposed regulations to reduce the sale of gas-powered vehicles in Maine has been postponed for a year. Environmental regulators had to delay an important vote following power outages caused by a storm, and the Board of Environmental Protection won’t reconvene before year-end. Consequently, the proposed rules have to be revised to take effect for vehicles in the 2028 model year, instead of the 2027 model year, and reopened for public comment until Feb. 5.

The proposal aims to mandate that 82% of new vehicles sold in the state will be considered zero emissions by the 2032 model year. While critics are happy to get a second chance to weigh in, advocates of the new rules believe that climate change likely contributed to the storm and that decisive action is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal has followed an unconventional path, using a process that allows any Maine resident to submit an agenda item with 150 signatures of registered voters.