Bay State News

Marc Lombardo, the state representative for Massachusetts’ 22nd Middlesex District, said the state’s clean energy mandates are politically motivated and economically detrimental. His comments were made during an interview on March 20.

In a statement to Bay State News, Lombardo condemned state-level environmental policies that align with the Green New Deal. He asserted these policies are unrealistic and economically damaging, lacking the necessary infrastructure for success. This comes as Massachusetts prepares for its 2035 ban on new gas-powered vehicle sales and increasing electric vehicle (EV) adoption mandates.

"I oppose these unrealistic laws that are apart of the green new scam across the country," said Lombardo. "These political motivated polices are intended to make people feel good but result in no real environmental impact and raise prices on residents." He added that consumers will soon feel the impact of EV mandates on heavy-duty trucks, which could cost up to three times more than gas-powered trucks and lack sufficient range for efficient operation. "Those costs will be passed on to the consumer and the price of all goods moved on trucks will soar," he continued. "Further, the idea that Massachusetts will require no new gas vehicles sales by 2035 is a joke."

Lombardo’s comments come amid growing debate over Massachusetts’ alignment with California’s vehicle emissions rules and the Baker/Healey administrations’ clean energy transition plans.

The Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations, adopted by California in 2022, mandate that all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The regulations set interim targets requiring 35% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2026 and 68% by 2030, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Edmunds reports that the average manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for a fully electric compact SUV was $53,048 compared to $35,722 for a gas-powered compact SUV. This makes EVs less accessible for middle-class consumers. Additionally, one-third of U.S. households lack access to at-home charging facilities, particularly in urban and rural areas, creating logistical barriers. The U.S. would need to quadruple its charging infrastructure by 2030 to meet projected demand.

According to Lombardo, "The charging infrastructure simply doesn't exist to support this mandate and won't be ready by 2035." He expressed concern over rising energy costs in Massachusetts: "Government is forcing electric use in a heavy handed way as electricity costs soar." Lombardo warned that if these requirements do not change, car dealerships may close their doors leading to job losses: "We will have an even more accelerated exodus of residents to states that offer a better quality of life like New Hampshire, Florida, and Texas."

Despite government incentives and subsidies aimed at boosting EV adoption, they accounted for only 8.1% of total new car sales in the U.S. in 2024. According to AP News, this indicates a significant majority of consumers continue preferring internal combustion engine vehicles due to factors such as higher upfront costs, limited driving range, and insufficient charging infrastructure.

Marc T. Lombardo has served as the Republican state representative for Massachusetts’ 22nd Middlesex District since 2011. A graduate of Merrimack College with a degree in Political Science, he began his political career on Billerica's Board of Selectmen before joining the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he advocates fiscal conservatism and opposes progressive energy mandates.