Critics speak out against phil murphy's 2035 gas car sales ban during zoom meeting

Critics Speak Out Against Phil Murphy’s 2035 Gas Car Sales Ban During Zoom Meeting

Posted by
1 min read
October 4, 2023

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s recent Advance Clean Cars II public hearing saw strong opposition to Governor Phil Murphy’s ambitious electric vehicle (EV) proposal.

Ray Cantor, Vice President of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), voiced concerns over the state’s plan to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035, citing affordability, practicality, and the restriction of consumer choice.

Highlighting the economic challenges of EV ownership, Cantor stated that many New Jersey residents would find it financially prohibitive. The current incentives in place to encourage EV purchases might not be permanent, making access even more challenging.

“You can’t put enough Chargers in place at this point in time even at homes to be significant and there are a lot of places where you have apartments condos dense populated areas where you can’t put enough charging stations in where its convenient for people,” he said. “You can’t tell people they need to walk blocks in order to charge their vehicle. It’s also a matter of choice as it is arrogant of the government to dictate what type of car people can or cannot drive.”

In addition to financial concerns, Cantor emphasized the state’s lack of necessary infrastructure to support a complete transition to electric vehicles. He cited issues like the scarcity of charging stations, particularly in densely populated areas.

Beyond the logistical and economic challenges, Cantor criticized the state’s move as overreach, arguing that such a mandate would limit consumer choices, especially when market trends do not show a high preference for EVs currently.

Cantor also pointed to a looming challenge: should the proposal go into effect, by 2027, 43% of all new car sales in New Jersey would need to be electric. This could cause a spike in prices for traditional vehicles due to shifting supply and demand.

He concluded by advocating for a more tailored approach to New Jersey’s unique needs instead of adopting policies from other states, stressing that a universal solution might not be the right fit.

“This program doesn’t work,” he concluded. “The market should dictate, not regulations.”

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version