Hochul: NY to follow California's 2035 electric car mandate

Following California’s lead, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday she will advance regulations by the end of the year that will result in New York ending new sales of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035.

Once the rules are finalized, New York formally will launch its plan to transition to “zero emission” vehicles — powered by electricity or hydrogen — by the middle of next decade.

It will include phase-in goals to gradually increase the share of alternate vehicles sold in the state. Previously sold gas- and diesel-powered vehicles would still be legal but would be phased out of use eventually as they wear out.

“We’re driving New York’s transition to clean transportation forward and today’s announcement will benefit our climate and the health of our communities for generations to come,” Hochul said in a statement.

Last month, California took the landmark step of finalizing regulations to end new sales of gas-only cars by 2035. The phase-in plan calls for 35% of new sales to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2026; 68% by 2030; 100% by 2035.

Under the federal Clean Air Act, states must abide by the federal government’s emissions standards for vehicles or opt to follow California’s stricter requirements. Seventeen states have been weighing the latter — including New York.

Here, state lawmakers previously enacted a law adopting California’s zero-emissions transition goals but had to wait for that state to finalize its regulations. When California did so last month, it opened the door for New York to adopt similar regulations and transition time tables — a process that could be completed by the end of the year.

“Once they made that decision, we are able to step up immediately and say now there’s nothing holding us back," Hochul told reporters at a news conference. 

The state Department of Environmental Conservation will propose and finalize the emissions rules. It will hold a public hearing before the rules are finalized.

Environmental groups hailed Thursday’s announcement.

“Passenger vehicles with no emissions will lower carbon, smog and soot pollution in our air and improve the health and well-being of every New Yorker,” said Conor Bambrick, director of climate policy for Environmental Advocates NY, in a statement. “As New York adopts these rules, Governor Hochul must make sure we use every resource on the table to make electric vehicles accessible for all.”

Hochul said the state has added money to a consumer rebate program (about $2,000 per vehicle) and a grant program for municipalities to encourage purchasing and leasing zero-emission vehicles. It said it’s also increased the number of high-speed charging facilities — although the state has been criticized for being too slow on the roll out.

The governor’s decision to advance the zero-emissions regulations comes as she is running for election this year against Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley), but environmental groups said the timing wasn’t tied to the political calendar.

Rather, New York has to complete emissions regulations by the end of the year to match California’s phase-in and give manufacturers two years’ lead time to adjust, they said.

New York’s move to adopt California’s emissions standard cannot be undone administratively by a future governor but only through an act of the State Legislature, environmentalists noted.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy