Wyoming legislators propose bill to phase out EVs by 2035
FILE – Electric car plugged in and charged at an eVgo electric vehicle charging station in a parking lot in Dublin, California June 20, 2018. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Wyoming Legislature are pushing for legislation in Cheyenne that could phase out electric vehicles by 2035 to protect a state economy largely fueled by gas and oil.
Under the title “Phasing out new electric vehicle Sales by 2035,” the bill is sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim Anderson and supported by Senators Brian Boner, Ed Cooper and Dan Dockstader, and House Representatives Donald Burkhart and Bill Henderson, also Republicans.
Lawmakers say oil and gas exploration has “long been one of Wyoming’s proud and esteemed industries” that has created countless jobs and contributed to the state’s economy.
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The bill emphasizes the importance of gas-powered vehicles as they enable industries and businesses in the state to engage in commerce and the transportation of goods and resources.
FILE exhibit of Tesla Model X during Torino Motor Show 2018. (Stefano Guidi/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Lawmakers are concerned that the infrastructure is not in place to support President Biden’s ambitious goal of phasing out gas vehicles and making half of all new vehicles sold zero-emissions by 2030.
Charging stations would need to be installed on Wyoming’s long stretches of freeway, while efforts to power those stations would need to be stepped up.
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Lawmakers also raised concerns that if fossil fuel production falls due to electric vehicles, unemployment will rise.
Anderson did not immediately respond to requests for additional information about the proposed legislation.
A charging Chevrolet Bolt EV is on display at the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on April 15, 2022 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The bill states that domestic supplies of minerals used in electric vehicle batteries are limited in the country and they are not easily recycled or disposed of.
Even with electric vehicles dominating the streets, lawmakers are claiming that fossil fuels will continue to be critical to moving people and goods across the country and in Wyoming.
“Pending sales of new electric vehicles in Wyoming by 2035 will ensure the stability of Wyoming’s oil and gas industry and help conserve the country’s critical minerals for vital uses,” the bill reads.
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