Green Mountain Times

Beth Quimby, the state representative for Vermont's Caledonia-3 District, said she does not support electric vehicle (EV) mandates due to insufficient infrastructure in her district. She made this statement during an interview on April 1.

"I do not support the mandates," said Quimby. "where I live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont there is not infrastructure in place to support this. The timeline is too short to realistically meet the well-intentioned goals."

According to the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), Vermont has adopted the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) regulations to align with California's zero-emission vehicle standards. These regulations require automakers to gradually increase the percentage of zero-emission vehicles available for sale in Vermont, aiming for 100% zero-emission passenger cars by 2035. This initiative is part of Vermont's broader climate strategy under the Global Warming Solutions Act, which mandates significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors, including transportation.

NE Vermont News reports that ten car dealerships in Vermont have signed a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to block the EV mandates imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The letter argues that government-imposed EV sales requirements are unrealistic and limit consumer choice. Vermont has adopted California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which mandates an increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for sale in the state, with a goal of achieving 100% ZEV sales by 2035.

According to Vermont Public, while the ACCII regulations aim for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, building the required charging infrastructure presents a significant challenge. Resources to deploy charging stations are limited, particularly in rural areas where fast chargers are scarce. This situation complicates aligning infrastructure development with ACCII timelines.

Quimby was appointed in 2024 to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Charles Wilson. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree earned through the Vermont Mathematics Initiative. Quimby taught middle school math for over 30 years at Barton Graded School and currently serves as a Justice of the Peace and board member of two local historical societies, according to the Vermont General Assembly.