The bill stated that it should be a state’s goal that 100% of new vehicles that will be sold and registered in the state shall be zero-emission vehicles.
Under the legislation S2448, known as the Electric Transportation Act, all new passenger cars and truck models year 2030 or later that will be sold or registered in Rhode Island should be electric vehicles.
Sen. Alana DiMario introduced the legislation, “We know this transition needs to happen, and we need a strategy and a plan to get there,” DiMario said. “By 2030, every Rhode Islander buying a new car should be able to go electric without worrying where they are going to charge.”
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Rhode Island. According to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), transportation accounts for 35% of all emissions in the state. The best strategy to reduce transportation emissions is by switching from fossil fuels to the use of electric vehicles.
This legislation would provide a framework to plan the infrastructure upgrades needed to meet the state’s charging grid needs. It will also create an environmental justice board to ensure that this project also targets low-income and minority communities and that they are not left behind in the transition to electric transportation.
According to the legislation, on or before January 1, 2025, the department (DEM) shall develop and propose regulations consistent with relevant federal law, to achieve the 2030 target. The act will take effect upon passage.
