Garden State Times

Senator Michael Testa criticized Governor Murphy's administration for their proposed electric vehicle mandate in New Jersey, stating that it could have negative consequences for rural communities in the state. Testa expressed concerns about the impact of the mandate on various industries in the first legislative district, including farming, fishing, energy, and manufacturing.

Speaking about the potential effects of the mandate, Senator Testa said, "Governor Murphy’s extreme electric vehicle mandate could disproportionately hurt rural New Jerseyans. The infrastructure needed to support charging electric vehicles is not evenly distributed throughout the State and it is not easily accessible in most rural communities in South Jersey." Testa, a representative of District 1, highlighted the potential job losses and economic instability that could result from the transition to all-electric vehicles. He also pointed out the challenges that older residents and businesses in his district may face in adapting to the new regulations if certain shops or gas stations close down.

Governor Murphy's Department of Environmental Protection recently introduced the Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which mandates that all new car sales in New Jersey must be electric by 2035. The rule also sets a target for more than half of all new car sales in the state to be electric by 2027.