AUGUSTA, Maine — A legislative panel approved Wednesday the reappointment of three Maine Board of Environmental Protection members who have been thrown into a political debate over their potential adoption of electric vehicle sale requirements.
The slight tension outside of an often-straightforward nomination process illustrates how environmental issues in Maine — a state famed for its natural beauty and outdoor opportunities — have become increasingly politicized as policymakers also grapple with climate change amid a flurry of destructive storms.
Yet Republicans and Democrats on the Legislature’s environment committee unanimously advanced Wednesday the reappointment of Bob Duchesne, Robert Sanford and Steven Pelletier, who have served one term on the board after Gov. Janet Mills appointed them.
Duchesne, of Hudson, is a former radio host and state lawmaker who writes a birding column for the Bangor Daily News. Sanford, of Gorham, is a professor emeritus of environmental science and policy at the University of Southern Maine. Pelletier, of Topsham, is a certified wildlife biologist, licensed forester and wetland scientist.
The Board of Environmental Protection, whose seven members were all either appointed or reappointed by Mills, a Democrat, took on added importance last year when several groups petitioned it to adopt rules requiring electric vehicles to make up 43 percent of new car sales by model year 2027 and 82 percent by model year 2032. About a dozen states have followed California’s lead in adopting similar EV rules.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine and several allies proposed the rules via a little-known provision in state law allowing citizens to bypass the Legislature and ask agencies to adopt or change rules if at least 150 registered voters sign a petition.
In an informal straw poll in October, board members voted 4-2 to indicate support for advancing the car rules while agreeing to not support similar electric vehicles sales requirements for trucks. The board was set to vote on adopting the EV mandate in December but delayed its decision due to a severe wind storm that knocked out power to a broad swath of Maine.
The delay required the initial 2027 effective date to switch to model year 2028. The board is now scheduled to take up the rules in March, according to staff.
Several Republican committee members, including Rep. Mike Soboleski, R-Phillips, asked the three board members up for reappointment Wednesday about their views on environmental issues relating to electric vehicles, renewable energy projects and mining.
But the questioning did not become hostile and featured plenty of compliments and laughter. That was a notable difference from how a Republican lawmaker not on the committee, Rep. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, portrayed the board members in a Wednesday morning statement.
He is running against Soboleski in a 2nd Congressional District primary this June for the chance to take on U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, in November.
“These folks, who support using government power to force Mainers to buy electric vehicles, should not be in a position of power,” Theriault said of the board nominees.
But Soboleski told Duchesne that he was “incredibly impressed” with how the board has expressed openness to policy changes that could allow the Legislature to have more say on proposed rules in the future. Duchesne said the 150-signature threshold has mostly “never been controversial” until the EV proposal came last year.
“Elected representatives make the policy,” Duchesne also said. “The board is expected to follow it.”
