ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Rockingham County Delegate Tony Wilt is pleased with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s decision that Virginia will no longer adhere to the stringent California Emission Standard.

The governor announced yesterday that the commonwealth will revert back to the federal standard at the end of the year.

Wilt had introduced measures in the last three General Assembly sessions withdrawing the commonwealth from the California Emissions Standards only to see those bills defeated by Democratic-controlled chambers.

He says Virginia has already made great strides in the last decade to reduce pollution.

“I drink the water and breathe the air and I want those things clean the best of our ability,” Wilt said. “I’m proud of Virginia’s renewable portfolio, if you will, what we’ve done to reduce emission standards and reduce air pollution. It’s exciting success story.

The mandate would have required 35 percent of all new vehicles sold in Virginia to be fully electric, starting in 2026. Wilt said that adapting the California standard for vehicle emissions is simply not feasible.