Don't California My New Jersey

Don’t California My New Jersey

Rural New Jersey Deserves a Break from Forceful EV Policies by Coastal, Urban Elites

One of the most contentious policy issues that disproportionately affects rural Americans is subsidization of electric vehicles (EVs) in lieu of traditional cars and trucks. While it is in our national interest to decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil and diversify our domestic energy mix, our policymakers must first do no harm to important and/or vulnerable communities.

Unsurprisingly, California politicians have been consistently and proactively harmful in its EV policymaking. In October 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that will require “all new cars and passengers trucks sold in California be zero-emission vehicles” by 2035. Also known as Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II), these regulations effectively ban all gas-powered vehicles by 2035. This radical policy was echoed by Washington in August 2022, when President Joe Biden issued an executive order that outlined his goal of make half of all new vehicles electric by 2030.

Other state governments are also looking to follow suit. States with significant rural communities and industries New Jersey are considering the adoption of California-like policies that will shove regulations best fit for coastal and urban elites down the throats of folks in rural and inland areas.

Policies that prematurely electrify America’s vehicle fleet are a recipe for disaster from both economic and infrastructural standpoints. Californification of rest of America will also do Democrats zero favors politically as they head into the 2024 presidential election, as rural swing voters will be disappointed by Democrats trying to dictate what kind of vehicles they should drive.

Gas Vehicle Bans Hurt New Jerseyans

Rural Residents

As of 2022, more than 833,400 New Jersey residents live in rural areas at the fringes of the state. Rural residents suffer the most from the effects of an aging power grid, affected by external factors like heavy winds, snowstorms, and over-usage of electric circuits by urban/suburban areas. The Murphy Administration’s effort to follow California’s electric vehicle standards will be a huge burden on rural residents.

Farmers

The Trenton and the Murphy administrations seem adamant to pursue forceful electric vehicle regulations for the entire state, incentivizing the purchase of new EVs with tax benefits that rural New Jerseyans like these farmers will disproportionately have to shoulder.

Tax Payers

The state’s most recent electricity rate hike raises bills by as much as 7%, depending on your provider. Unsurprisingly, those living in rural counties will suffer the most from this change, as they rely on electricity for heating and business operations more than their urban/suburban peers. One can only imagine how much the utility rates will climb again if the Murphy administration fully implements the ban on gas-powered cars by 2035.