Illinois small business advocates warn of exodus over proposed emissions standards

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Pollution Control Board is considering adopting strict California-style vehicle emissions standards and banning gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, a move that small business advocates will force businesses out of the state.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board met with the Environmental Protection Agency in Springfield on Monday to take testimony from environmental and other advocates urging the state to make car and truck emissions standards stronger than federal regulations.

National Federation of Independent Small Business Illinois State Director Noah Finley said the rules would force businesses to leave the state.

“This proposal would put Illinois’ small businesses at a disadvantage compared to their peers in neighboring states,” he said. “Many NFIB members report that they would consider scaling back their business, moving to another state, or closing/selling their business if these mandates go into effect. They’re already wrestling with years of inflation and workforce challenges. The last thing they need is another bureaucratic mandate that further increases the cost of doing business in Illinois.”

President Donald Trump has favored a reliance on fossil fuels and has declared a national energy emergency amid promises to cut energy prices by 50%.

“If you can’t breathe, nothing else matters,” said Dr. Juanita Mora, a Chicago physician who is on the national board of the American Lung Association. “We want clean air for everyone, because it translates into our lungs being open, our children being able to play in playgrounds.”

The board is considering adopting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and the Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus Rules, which would phase out gas and diesel-powered cars, pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs, leading to a complete ban on non-battery electric vehicles by 2035.

An exemption in the federal Clean Air Act allowed California to enact stricter emissions standards and allowed other states to either adopt California’s rules or adhere to federal regulations. Sixteen other states have adopted California’s regulations, the state claims.