Consumer Energy Alliance, an energy and environmental advocate, issued the following statement after the Kansas Senate passed House Bill 2783, which preserves Kansans’ right to buy the vehicle of their choosing.

The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers lobbied for the bill which would prohibit “any state agency, city or county from regulating or restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on the energy source used.”

CEA Midwest Executive Director Chris Ventura praised the move.

“We applaud these legislators for standing up for consumer choice, especially considering yesterday’s draconian mandates pushed out by the U.S. EPA designed to eliminate gas-powered cars,” he said.

“CEA has long been an advocate for consumer choice. Electric vehicles have an important and growing role in our vehicle mix going forward, but mandates that serve only to increase prices and harm drivers are not the answer.  It is our hope that this action sends a strong message to Washington – the U.S. EPA should not be coercing consumers to choose vehicles that are unaffordable and may create more issues for our electric grid.”

“We encourage Governor Kelly to sign this bipartisan legislation as soon as it reaches her desk.”