In mid-April, Washington state passed a bill that aims to ban the sale of gas cars by 2030. Located in the pristine Pacific Northwest, Washington is working towards cleaner air, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and more renewable energy use.
How will the Washington bill help the environment?
Simply put, the full implementation of the law should encourage more Washington residents to drive electric vehicles. The bill still needs to be signed by Washington's Democratic Governor Jay Inslee before the law can be enforced statewide. After that, there's still some criteria that needs to be met.
Local environmental activists are celebrating the new green bill. Groups like Coltura see it as a victory against climate change.
Other states that are banning gas cars
New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington state have already set goals to ban gas cars, but other CARB states will likely join the fray as well.
What will happen to gas cars?
If you are a resident of California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, or Washington, you can still drive, buy, and sell used gas cars even after the laws take effect. So far, all the proposed bans only affect the sale of new gas cars. However, you might have to pay taxes if you drive a gas car even before the 2030 deadline in Washington.