Vermont First to Halt Zero-Emission Mandate: Oregon Quickly Follows
Vermont Governor Phil Scott was the first governor in the U.S. to switch to an EV.
MONTPELIER, Vt. — In a decisive move with national reverberations, Vermont became the first state to hit pause on the implementation of California-style zero-emission truck mandates, citing economic and logistical challenges that critics say environmental advocates have overlooked.
On May 13, Governor Phil Scott issued Executive Order 04-25, delaying enforcement of Vermont’s adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rules until December 31, 2026. This action precedes a similar decision by Oregon and puts Vermont at the forefront of a growing backlash against regulations modeled on California’s aggressive climate targets.
Governor Scott said the order aims to prevent undue harm to local auto dealers, consumers, and businesses while technology and infrastructure catch up with regulatory ambition. “We have to be practical,” Scott said, noting that Vermont’s dealers are being saddled with electric vehicle (EV) inventory they can’t sell, and buyers are wary of limited-range trucks with insufficient charging options.
Environmental Mandate Meets Economic Reality
Vermont’s decision doesn’t represent a rejection of climate goals. Instead, it reflects a fundamental misalignment between regulatory timelines and on-the-ground capacity. Scott’s executive order outlines a range of issues:
Lack of Infrastructure: Vermont is far from having the heavy-duty EV charging network necessary to support a statewide transition. Despite state and federal investments, buildout has lagged, especially in rural areas.
Market Inflexibility: Some manufacturers are reportedly forcing ZEV (zero-emission vehicle) quotas on Vermont dealerships before permitting them to sell gas and diesel trucks. As the order states, this reduces availability of conventional vehicles without a consumer-ready electric alternative.
Supply Chain Uncertainty: Ongoing global disruptions, including tariffs and rising component costs, have delayed the rollout of compliant vehicles and pushed prices upward.
Technological Limitations: Heavy-duty EV trucks remain limited in range and payload, making them less viable for Vermont’s terrain and climate, especially for long-haul and cold-weather performance.
Industry Applauds; Environmentalists Push Back
Trucking associations across the country quickly praised Vermont’s decision. “This pause is necessary,” said Oregon Trucking Association CEO Jana Jarvis, noting that the market for electric trucks is “not functioning properly.”
However, environmental advocacy groups criticized the delay, calling it a step backward in the fight against climate change. But are their objections rooted in the current technical and economic reality?
Several points cast doubt on the feasibility of the original timeline:
EV Truck Availability: According to data from multiple fleet reports and vehicle registries, there are still very few commercially viable, mass-produced Class 8 electric trucks on the market—let alone at a scale that could support Vermont’s commercial and municipal needs.
Funding Shortfalls: Vermont, like other rural states, depends on significant federal grants to build out EV infrastructure. But those funds are limited and increasingly tied to performance benchmarks that Vermont risks failing to meet if forced to comply with ACT and ACC II deadlines.
Consumer Demand: Despite growing climate awareness, EV truck adoption remains low. Recent figures show national EV sales dipped 5% in April 2025 even as the overall auto market grew 10%.
Not Just Vermont: A Growing National Shift
Oregon followed Vermont's lead days later, halting enforcement for 2025 and 2026 model years after complaints that ACT compliance was choking supply of conventional trucks and harming local dealers.
Washington remains the only West Coast state still actively enforcing the rule—something that could now isolate it economically. “There is no federal or state money in Washington for heavy-duty EV truck charging,” said Sheri Call of the Washington Trucking Associations. “That leaves us out of sync with our trade partners and without infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, California’s waiver authority to impose stricter emissions rules was struck down by a 51-44 U.S. Senate vote, and the Trump administration has signaled broader rollbacks in state-level environmental autonomy.
What Comes Next?
Governor Scott emphasized that Vermont is still committed to cutting emissions—but through pragmatic steps, not forced timelines. His order mandates manufacturer accountability, including detailed reports by mid-2025 and 2026 on actual progress toward making EVs viable, including training, dealership support, and charging investments.
Whether environmental groups recalibrate their strategies remains to be seen. Critics argue that a rigid push for aggressive mandates without regard to supply, affordability, or rural infrastructure risks alienating the very constituencies whose buy-in is essential for climate action.
Bottom Line: Vermont isn’t abandoning electric trucks—it’s pumping the brakes to avoid driving off a cliff. For a state as climate-conscious as Vermont, the move may signal that realism—not resistance—is the new strategy in advancing environmental goals.