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Wyoming lawmakers push for electric-car ban and to limit sales by 2035 |
A group of Republican Wyoming lawmakers want to phase out the sale of electric vehicles in the Cowboy State by 2035, saying the move will help safeguard oil and gas industries.
The bill, introduced into the state legislature on Friday, claims electric vehicles will hinder Wyoming’s ability to trade with other states.
"Wyoming's vast stretches of highway, coupled with a lack of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, make the widespread use of electric vehicles impracticable for the state,"...
Among the reasons cited in the legislation
- Batteries used in electric vehicles could contain critical minerals whose "domestic supply is limited and at risk for disruption."
- Minerals used in electric batteries are not easily recyclable or disposable, meaning that municipal landfills in the state could be required to develop practices to dispose of these minerals in a safe and responsible manner.
- The bill also notes the oil industry has employed thousands of people in the state:
- “The proliferation of electric vehicles at the expense of gas-powered vehicles will have deleterious impacts on Wyoming’s communities and will be detrimental to Wyoming’s economy and the ability for the country to efficiently engage in commerce.”
