Critics say a regional plan to slash carbon emissions will spur fuel shortages and long lines at the pump within two years unless Bay Staters start trading in their gas-powered cars for electric vehicles by the thousands.
“For TCI to achieve its environmental goals, it must limit the supply of gasoline and diesel fuels into Massachusetts which will result in higher costs and shortages. For the average driver, it will look like either a very high gas tax or no gas at the pump,” said Paul D. Craney, spokesman for the Fiscal Alliance Foundation.
The cap-and-trade program championed by Gov. Charlie Baker claims it will cut carbon emissions by 26% by 2032 by capping the total pollution allowed from gasoline and deisel-powered vehicles. Proceeds from a limited number of permits purchased by companies who exceed their cap would fund green transportation and climate-resilient infrastructure.
It’s designed to speed up the transition from fossil-fuel-reliant transportation to greener alternatives like electric cars and buses.
To reach those goals, David Chu, vice president of the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, predicted Massachusetts would have to reduce fuel usage by 52 million gallons by 2025. That translates to 80,000 fewer gas-powered cars on the road — vehicles that will either have to go electric or go without gas.
“Everyone knows about the shortages caused by COVID. There were toilet paper, cleaning supplies, people rushed to the stores, the shelves were empty, prices spiked and people couldn’t find the product anymore. That is the kind of thing we’re predicting for TCI if the slack in the amount of fuel that can be sold isn’t offset by increases in (electric vehicle) sales,” Chu said.
In 2020, just 2,000 electric vehicles were sold in Massachusetts, according to Mass Fiscal. To avoid gas shortages by 2025, the state will need to be selling 2,000 each month beginning in July.
But Craney said it’s an expanding problem that will leave drivers wanting more at the pump.
Herald wire services contributed to this report.
