Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has pledged to dismantle New York State's green energy mandates, including the law phasing out the sale of new gasoline-powered cars, if elected. Blakeman, currently the Nassau County executive, characterized Governor Kathy Hochul's policies as a "war on drivers."
Central to Blakeman's criticism is the 2022 Advance Clear Cars Mandate 2, which mandates that all new passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in New York must be zero-emission by 2035. Hochul has championed this initiative as crucial for meeting the state's climate change goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. She has pointed to state and federal investments aimed at incentivizing the transition to electric vehicles, stating in September 2022 that these actions would "benefit our climate and the health of our communities for generations to come."
During Earth Week in April, Hochul reiterated her support for the mandate, announcing $30 million in state funds to subsidize the purchase or lease of electric vehicles for New Yorkers. She suggested that electric vehicles could offer a more affordable driving option, especially as gas prices rise.
Blakeman, however, argues that these mandates limit consumer choice and impose significant costs. He also raised concerns about the strain such a transition could place on the state's electrical grid. "Hochul looks at middle-class commuters and sees an ATM," Blakeman stated, criticizing toll hikes and congestion pricing. "She already hiked tolls and fares 21 times, slapped drivers with a congestion pricing tax just to cross into Manhattan, and now she’s literally trying to dictate what vehicle you can keep in your driveway."
Concerns about the feasibility of the 2035 deadline have also been voiced within the automotive industry. New York auto dealers interviewed last year warned that the timeline did not align with market realities. Jack Weidinger, chairman of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, expressed a desire to extend the deadline to avoid market disruption.
Even some Democratic lawmakers have reportedly urged Hochul to reconsider the pace of the transition. In addition to the vehicle mandate, Hochul and the state legislature have also implemented bans on gas stoves, furnaces, and propane heating in new buildings. While Hochul did adjust the state's broader greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, shifting the goal from a 40% cut by 2030 to a 60% cut by 2040, her administration has largely stood by the electric vehicle mandate.
The Hochul campaign has responded to Blakeman's criticisms by linking him to former President Trump's energy and tariff policies. A spokesperson for Hochul's campaign stated, "Let’s talk about Bruce Blakeman’s war on drivers: while Governor Hochul lowers the cost of car insurance to put money back in families’ pockets, Blakeman opposes those efforts while throwing his weight behind Trump’s record-high gas prices that are draining New Yorkers’ wallets and his illegal tariffs that make cars more expensive."