A California lawmaker introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban the sale of gas-powered cars in the state by 2040.
Democratic Assemblymember Phil Ting introduced the Clean Cars 2040 Act in an effort to prevent climate change by cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. If passed, his bill would mandate that all passenger vehicles sold after Jan. 1, 2040, be zero-emission machines.
“California has long led the nation in promoting environmental protection and public health through visionary policies and technological innovations,” Ting said in a statement Wednesday. “It’s time that we clear the path for emissions-free transportation and take significant steps to achieve our ambitious emissions reduction goals.”
Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer, who is currently running a campaign to impeach President Donald Trump, lent his support to the bill.
“Now more than ever, this legislation is needed to protect Californians’ health, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and reinforce our state’s role as a global climate leader,” Steyer said in a statement.
The new law would not apply to commercial vehicles weighing more than five tons. It also would not apply to cars owned by people moving into the state from elsewhere.
Ting is following the example of countries such as Norway, the United Kingdom and France, who have all pledged to ban the sale of gas-powered cars in the coming decades.
This is the first legislation of its kind introduced in the United States.
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