NFIB: Businesses would consider leaving if IL imposes non-electric
vehicle ban
[March 12, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Pollution Control Board is
considering a proposal to ban most new non-electric vehicle sales in the
state by 2035.
Environmental groups have proposed adopting some of California’s vehicle
emissions standards, which include phasing out the sale of new gasoline
and diesel-powered vehicles and a complete ban on the sale of most new
non-electric vehicles in 2035.
National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Noah
Finley said small businesses in Illinois overwhelmingly oppose the
proposed requirements.
“We did a survey of our small business member earlier this year, and 99%
of them oppose the adoption of these new mandates. They’re concerned
that it could really have a detrimental impact on their small
businesses,” Finley told The Center Square.
The mandates would also impose new testing and emissions standards on
new heavy-duty trucks.
Finley said businesses would be forced to operate more large trucks and
hire more drivers.
“Employers are already having a hard time finding these drivers. This is
going to drive up the cost of transporting goods, and we’re all going to
pay more at our local store,” Finley said.
Finley explained that raising the cost of transportation would impact
just about every small business.
“That is going to raise costs for them. They’re going to have to pass it
on to their customers. That’s bad for the small business, it’s bad for
their employees, and it’s bad for their communities at large,” Finley
said.
Finley said the regulations would put Main Street businesses in Illinois
at a disadvantage compared to those in neighboring states.
“Many of our members have indicated they would consider just moving
their business across state lines to avoid these mandates,” Finley said.
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National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director
Noah Finley - Greg Bishop | The Center Square
More than a dozen people expressed support for the proposed
requirements this week with public comments submitted to the
Illinois Pollution Control Board via electronic filing.
Activist groups in favor of the stricter vehicle emissions standards
include the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, the Chicago Environmental
Justice Network and the Environmental Defense Fund.
A similar proposal failed to advance in 2023.
Evidence presented to the IPCB Tuesday included a study contracted
by The Clean Freight Coalition with Roland Berger to examine the
added costs to the freight industry and utilities if commercial
vehicles reach 100% electrification.
The findings released in March of 2024 include estimated
freight-industry investment of $620 billion nationwide in charging
infrastructure alone. Utilities would have to invest $370 billion to
upgrade grid networks.
“This nearly $1 trillion expenditure does not account for the cost
of purchasing new battery-electric trucks,” the report concludes.
A Ryder System, Inc. report published as evidence Tuesday estimated
that higher costs associated with mandated electric vehicles could
add approximately 0.5% to 1% to overall inflation.
“Ryder’s analysis underscores the reasons EV adoption for commercial
vehicles remains in its infancy. In addition to the limited support
infrastructure and EV availability, the business case for converting
to EV for most payload and mileage applications is extremely
challenging,” the report concluded.
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