Joseph McKenna, state representative for Massachusetts’ 18th Worcester District, expressed concerns regarding California’s vehicle emissions mandates. He said that these mandates are unfairly burdening Massachusetts and should be repealed at either the state or federal level.
“It is a concerning disregard for state’s rights that a state policy on the west coast is having such an enormous negative impact on a state 3,000 miles away,” said McKenna. “I support either a change at the State level in MA to revoke the adoption of the CA standards, or preferably such an action at the Federal level. The cars are simply not affordable enough and the charging infrastructure is nowhere near robust enough to support a market demand of 30-40% ZEV. It is an unachievable market that will drive consumers to non-CARB states… causing significant economic loss in CARB states.”
In May 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced a two-year delay in enforcing the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation. This regulation requires increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales starting with model year 2026. The decision to delay was influenced by concerns over insufficient electric vehicle (EV) inventory, high costs, and inadequate charging infrastructure. The enforcement delay aims to provide manufacturers and consumers additional time to adapt to the forthcoming requirements.
According to the Commonwealth Beacon, Massachusetts also postponed the implementation of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule. This rule mandates manufacturers to sell a growing percentage of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Originally set to begin in 2025, enforcement has been delayed due to challenges such as limited demand, high vehicle costs, and insufficient charging infrastructure. This pause reflects the state’s recognition of the practical difficulties in meeting aggressive ZEV targets for larger vehicles.
As reported by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), an investment of $38 million is being made to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state. This initiative focuses on deploying charging stations in public areas, supporting medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging, and implementing vehicle-to-everything demonstration projects. The program aims to enhance accessibility and equity in EV charging, particularly in underserved communities.
McKenna was a U.S. politician and jurist who served as a U.S. Congressman, Attorney General, and Supreme Court Justice. Known for his conservative stance on limited government intervention, he advocated for minimizing government overreach, particularly in areas such as regulatory mandates. His career reflected a preference for policies that reduced potential economic impacts of sweeping mandates, aligning with concerns similar to those raised about the ACC II regulations.
