Hawaii and Wisconsin join blue-state opposition to Trump’s EV attacks

Hawaii and Wisconsin joined a group of Democratic-led states on Thursday that have pledged to support the electric vehicle market in the wake of Congress’ decision to revoke California’s nation-leading vehicle emission rules.

The U.S. Climate Alliance, a group of 24 blue- and purple-state governors, announced that Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers are joining the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition, a group that has vowed to defend states’ ability to set air quality standards and develop policies to support clean vehicle adoption.

“All Wisconsinites deserve to be able to drive the newest and cleanest cars on the market, especially those that save money and pollute less,” said Evers, who co-chairs the U.S. Climate Alliance with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Hawaii and Wisconsin are the first two states to join the coalition that have not adopted California’s stricter-than-federal vehicle emissions standards. The 10 states that joined California in forming the coalition had all planned to implement the Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which would have phased out gas car sales by 2035.

President Donald Trump revoked that rule, along with the state’s heavy-duty truck sales mandate and stricter diesel emissions standards, in June.

The Trump administration’s aggressive push to dismantle clean vehicle policies, including the $7,500 federal EV tax credit that expires on Sept. 30, has unified blue states — including some that planned to slow down their own EV mandates.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order in April to cancel penalties on car manufacturers for the first two years of the rule, while Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer said in a May interview that he planned to nix his state’s mandate entirely.

The coalition's platform is light on specific policy proposals, instead offering a commitment to develop solutions on clean vehicle affordability and defend California’s decades-old authority to set air pollution standards under the Clean Air Act, which other states can follow. The states stop short of pledging to support EV sales rules.

Vermont is the only state missing from the coalition that has signed on to California’s EV rules. The state’s Republican governor, Phil Scott, paused enforcement of ACCII in a May executive order.

The coalition has also garnered support from private companies, including IKEA, Sierra Nevada Brewing and Starbucks.

“IKEA U.S. is proud to support policy solutions that help retailers provide affordable, zero-emission deliveries for our customers,” said Doug Murray, public affairs leader for IKEA U.S.

California lawmakers are attempting to extend the state’s cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions before the legislative session ends on Sept. 12, and Newsom has proposed funding new EV incentives with revenue generated by that program.