Oregon and Washington enacted a 100% zero-emission cars sales requirement on the same day

On Monday, the Washington Department of Ecology and the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission passed the “Advanced Clean Cars II” rule, which will require all new cars sold in Oregon and Washington be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. This rule aligns Oregon and Washington with California’s updated auto emissions standards. 

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in both Oregon and Washington. In addition to climate pollution, poor air quality caused by burning fossil fuels in our cars and trucks causes toxic tailpipe pollution, emitting harmful gasses such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and ozone, which are linked to breathing problems like asthma in kids and adults and higher rates of cancer, heart disease and premature death.

Setting an ambitious target of having all new car sales be zero-emission vehicles by 2035 will get more clean vehicles on the road, help us hit our climate pollution reduction goals, clean up our air and take advantage of the fact that Oregon and Washington’s electric grid is getting cleaner every year.