TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy purchased a new fleet of Chevrolet Suburbans for his entourage recently but is demanding that average, ordinary New Jerseyans stop using gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.
Those vehicles get 20 miles per gallon, according to industry papers.
Senator Ed Durr criticized Governor Murphy’s announcement of a rule mandating the sale of only zero-emission electric vehicles in New Jersey by 2035. Durr accuses the governor of being disingenuous by telling New Jerseyans they are not obliged to buy these electric vehicles while forcing car manufacturers to sell them exclusively.
In a press release, Governor Murphy stated that the new rule would require vehicle manufacturers to increase the percentage of zero-emission vehicles in their new light-duty vehicle sales, eventually reaching 100% by 2035.
He emphasized that the rule does not impose any obligations on consumers or car dealers.
However, Senator Durr argues that banning the sale of gas-powered alternatives would limit consumers’ choices and leave them with only the option of purchasing expensive electric vehicles.
He points out that the average cost of an electric vehicle today is over $60,000, making them unaffordable for many residents. Additionally, Durr raises concerns about the lack of sufficient public charging infrastructure by 2035, making it difficult for people to use electric vehicles if they can afford them. Not everyone has access to a garage or the financial means to install a home charging station.
“Unless you want to ride a bike, Governor Murphy’s extreme energy policies will force people to replace their affordable gas-powered cars with more expensive EVs,” Durr continued. “The governor is also ignoring the fact that sufficient public charging infrastructure won’t exist by 2035 for the EVs that people will be forced to buy, if they can afford one. Not everyone has a garage they can park in or the financial ability to install their own home charging station.”
Senator Durr and other Senate Republicans sponsored legislation, S-3684, to raise concerns about the affordability, diversity, and security of Governor Murphy’s extreme Energy Master Plan. Durr questions the constitutionality of the ban and highlights the hypocrisy of the Murphy administration using taxpayer dollars to purchase gas-powered SUVs for official use while pushing for a ban on gas-powered vehicles for the public.
The senator concludes by likening the situation to other public figures, like John Kerry, who advocate for climate change action while seemingly living differently themselves. Durr believes that ordinary citizens bear the brunt of such policies while leaders often do not face the same consequences.
I guess Governor Murphy doesn’t see the hypocrisy of his administration using taxpayer dollars to purchase a fleet of new gas-powered SUVs to shuttle him and other Democrat leaders around the state,” Durr added. “It’s like John Kerry with his multiple mansions flying around the world on his private jet while telling the rest of us to that we’re responsible for climate change. The rest of us are forced to suffer while they are the real problem.”