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Policy

We advance policies to cut gasoline use at speed and scale

Burning gasoline in light duty vehicles in the U.S. accounts for a sixth of U.S. carbon emissions and more than 35% of world gasoline use. Scientists have issued a clear warning: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we must cut carbon emissions from all sources 50% by 2030, and 100% by 2050. Coltura’s policy work is focused on achieving these near-term and long-term targets by cutting gasoline used by our cars, trucks and SUVs.

Near Term (by 2030) Policies:  We have only a few years to make deep cuts in carbon emissions. This means that we need effective ways to reduce large amounts of gasoline consumption right away. Coltura’s research has demonstrated enormous potential to do this by expediting the switch to EVs for the U.S. drivers who are using the most gasoline. The top 10% of U.S. drivers in terms of their gasoline use – “gasoline superusers” – are using around one third of U.S. gasoline, and more than 11% of world gasoline – about as much as all of China!

 

We still strongly support longer-term policies to cut emissions and get people out of private vehicles altogether (such as new vehicle emissions standards and new gas car phaseouts, urban planning, bike lanes and improved transit), but we must also meet the urgency of this moment to cut gasoline.

CHECK OUT OUR GASOLINE SUPERUSER APPROACH HERE

Our gasoline superuser policy work includes:

  • a Washington study of gasoline superusers being used to determine that state’s EV incentive policy; 
  • a California bill that would have provided an added EV incentive to lower-income gasoline superusers; 
  • a Vermont law enabling a utility to incentivize superusers to switch to EVs.

Longer Term (by 2050 or sooner) Policies: Coltura is working to end the use of U.S. gasoline altogether by 2040. To that end, we advance state policies targeting 2030 as the date for all new cars to be electric, and mandating all-of-government plans for that to happen, including such considerations as grid upgrades and sufficient EV charging. We built the coalition that passed such a law in Washington State (the “Clean Cars 2030” law). We have been instrumental in other gas car phaseout policies, including:

  • a 2035 gasoline car phaseout regulation in California; 
  • a Washington law enabling Washington state to join the ZEV Program (requiring automakers to provide an increasing percent of Zero Emission Vehicles or ZEVs reaching 100% by 2035)
  • a Massachusetts law mandating a government plan (section 80) to achieve 100% of cars sold being zero emission by 2035;
  • a Rhode Island bill setting a target for all new light duty vehicles to be electric by 2030

Learn More About Superuser Bills

 

VERMONT

CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON

 

Read More About Our Policy Change Work

March 11, 2023

CALIFORNIA AB1267 – EV INCENTIVES FOR GASOLINE-BURDENED FAMILIES

High gasoline prices are placing an extreme burden on lower income families driving many miles in older, more polluting vehicles. California Assemblymember Phil Ting sponsored AB 2816 to help get these families into electric vehicles and cut their fuel costs, and for cleaner air and a healthier planet for all.
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April 30, 2022

CALIFORNIA ADOPTS ADVANCED CLEAN CARS II REGULATION PHASING OUT GAS CARS BY 2035

In a critical step toward meeting vehicle emissions reduction goals, today, California adopted the Advanced Clean Cars II program (ACC II), a common-sense approach to cutting climate and air pollution by requiring that all new cars sold in 2035 and beyond are zero-emission vehicles. It sets enforceable standards for the rate at which automakers must convert their offerings to electric and provides certainty for other EV market players concerning the timing of electrification.
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March 26, 2022
act now, breathing easy isn't an option, gasoline and diesel, source of carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution, about climate change, getting off gasoline is critical to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,

Washington Enacts Clean Cars 2030 Law

Coltura’s work in Washington State has paid off! On March 25, 2022, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bill setting a date of 2030 for all new cars registered in the state to be electric. The measure, known as Clean Cars 2030, sets the most aggressive state target in the U.S. for the phaseout of gasoline cars – a full five years ahead of California's 2035 deadline – and establishes an interagency council tasked with creating a plan for achieving the 2030 target. Coltura led the effort to get this bill introduced and led the coalition that helped pass it.
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