Hundreds of people turned out on Tuesday at the State House Annex in Trenton for a bipartisan coalition of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware union workers, business leaders, community advocates, energy producers and local and state elected officials to rally and call on the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies to change course on policies that will ban most new gas cars and impose electric vehicle mandates.
New Jersey Business & Industry Association CEO and President Michele Siekerka served as emcee for the event. The crowd spoke directly to the EPA and regulators with a rallying cry: “Save Our Jobs! Don’t Ban Our Cars!”
The EPA is moving forward with two regulations that are part of a bigger agenda to ban most new gas and diesel cars and trucks.
“With an EV mandate, there will be too many unknowns for low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans, for seniors, for young people and for families struggling to make ends meet,” Sen. Carmen Amato (R-Forked River), said. “Clearly, we do not have the roadside infrastructure or grid power to allow most drivers to have an electric vehicle. And we don’t have the local, on-the-street and in-the-driveway infrastructure for everyone to have one.
Other rally speakers and attendees included:
- Members of the International Oil Workers, New Jersey UA Pipe Trades, U.S. Steelworkers Local 4/898, UA Local 322 and AFL-CIO Local 74;
- Employees of PBF Paulsboro Refinery and Delaware City Refinery, Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery and Monroe Energy;
- Kate Gibbs, Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative (Elec 825);
- Sen. John Burzichelli (D-Glassboro);
- Linden Mayor Derek Armstead;
- Paulsboro Mayor John Giovannitti;
- Paulsboro Councilmember Ted Holloway;
- Sen. Latham Tiver (R-Evesham);
- Assemblyman Christian Barranco (R-Lake Hopatcong);
- Assemblyman Dan Hutchison (D-Laurel Springs);
- Assemblyman Cody Miller (D-Turnersville);
- Assemblyman Greg Myhre (R-Forked River);
- New Castle, Delaware, Councilman Tim Sheldon;
- Carl Marrara, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association;
- Chet Thompson, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers CEO & president;
- American Petroleum Institute;
- New Jersey Chamber of Commerce;
- Consumer Energy Alliance, Mid Atlantic Chapter;
- Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey;
- Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce;
- Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey.
Every American will be impacted by gas car bans and EV mandates. And, with more than 90% of American households owning at least one car, policies limiting the ability to purchase a vehicle of one’s own choice are going to have far-reaching impacts.
Seventy-five percent of Americans oppose policies aimed at banning new gas, diesel and traditional hybrid vehicles. With the supply of gas cars being restricted by federal and state policies, vehicle prices are likely to increase, pushing cars out of reach for many families. Consumers also will pay for this policy through their taxes and electricity bills.
Eric DeGesero of the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey said: “The last time the New Jersey Legislature voted on an EV mandate, it voted to repeal the NJDEP’s authority to implement one. Gov. (Phil) Murphy, in direct contravention, is mandating EVs anyway. This is why we applaud Sen. Burzichelli’ s introduction of Senate Bill 2252 and urge the Legislature’s swift adoption.”
