TRENTON, NJ – The sale of new gasoline-powered cars will be outlawed in the State of New Jersey starting in just twelve years under the direction of current Governor Phil Murphy.
Yes, a gas car ban is coming to New Jersey, similar to the one recently implemented in California. That’s not all for New Jersey. A promise to switch the state to clean energy by 2035 could also change how New Jerseyans heat their homes, cook food, and warm their swimming pools.
If Governor Phil Murphy had his way, all of New Jersey’s energy needs would be converted to electricity and powered by clean energy such as solar and wind. Taxes, cost, and efficiency are of no concern to the governor who once boasted, “If taxes are your issue, then New Jersey’s probably not your state.”
Governor Murphy has signed an executive order to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars and vehicles. The action was taken unilaterally by the governor on Wednesday without a vote in the state senate or legislature.
“Today is a good day. I am proud to announce that we’re accelerating New Jersey’s goal of reaching a 100% clean energy future ahead by 15 years – from 2050 to 2035. We’ve turned our vision for a greener tomorrow into a roadmap to guide us along the way,” the Governor tweeted after announcing his gasoline car ban.
The announced ban will affect all cars and light-duty trucks. It will not affect heavy diesel-based commercial vehicles or his new fleet of gas-guzzling large SUVs.
According to Kelly Blue Book, “The rules don’t take gas-powered cars off the street or ban the sale of used gas-powered cars. They also don’t ban residents from buying them out of state and titling them in New Jersey. But they will require car dealers to sell only emissions-free new cars within 12 years.”
Murphy signed Executive Order 315, which creates an accelerated target of 100% clean energy by 2035, defined as “100% of the electricity sold in the State to come from clean sources of electricity by January 1, 2035, through clean energy market mechanisms, paired with support for a Clean Energy Standard in New Jersey.”
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That means that in 2035, selling gas-powered vehicles in New Jersey will be illegal. Murphy cites global warming as the motivating factor behind his latest executive order, saying traditional methods of energy production that rely on burning fossil fuels release harmful emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change.
“These bold targets and carefully crafted initiatives signal our unequivocal commitment to swift and concrete climate action today,” said Governor Murphy. “We’ve turned our vision for a greener tomorrow into a responsible and actionable roadmap to guide us, and it’s through that pragmatic, evidence-based approach that we will ultimately arrive at our destination. Combined with our federal partnerships reinforced through the Inflation Reduction Act, these comprehensive initiatives will better protect and prepare every New Jersey community, including those on the front lines of climate change who have previously been left out and left behind.”
U.S. World and News Report reported six states have now committed to zero-emissions vehicles by 2035, and the European Union recently announced its ban. All EU member countries will ban the sale of new gas and diesel vehicles by 2035, and the plan includes emissions reduction requirements for city buses and commercial vehicles like semi-trucks.
Fortunately for Murphy, his ban is some ten-plus years away, allowing him to recently upgrade his fleet of gas-guzzling Chevrolet Suburbans using COVID-19 earmarked funds.
Murphy’s executive order also hints that he is not done banning fossil fuel power systems and appliances across businesses and homes in New Jersey. His new 2035 clean energy acceleration goal is expected to target fossil fuel-based home heating systems and gas-powered appliances such as stoves, water heaters, grills, swimming pools and other gas-powered devices in a home.
Murphy stated that by 2035, New Jersey residents would be switching to 100% clean energy.
“It is the policy of the State to advance clean energy market mechanisms and other programs in order to provide for 100 percent of the electricity sold in the State to be derived from clean sources of electricity by January 1, 2035,” Murphy said.