Last month, Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom announced his plan to ban gas-powered vehicles for 2035. However, the Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, warned that Newsom’s new executive order is both unrealistic and illegal.

On Monday, Wheeler sent a letter to the Governor, citing that while his new executive seemed aspirational, there are parts that had to be approved by the federal government. In the letter, Wheeler also questioned Newsom’s goal to ensure that 100 percent of all new vehicles in the state of California should have zero emissions. “While the EO seems mostly aspirational and on its own would accomplish very little,” Wheeler noted.

However, the EPA administrator believed that the biggest issue on Newsom’s order is the state’s ability to maintain a stable electric supply. He established that this would add a huge problem for the state and its residents, especially since they are already struggling with power supply. Wheeler noted, “your state is already struggling to maintain reliable electricity for today’s demands.” He even mocked how impractical, and unfeasible the Governor’s plan is, “how you expect to run an electric car fleet that will come with significant increases in electricity demand when you can’t even keep the lights on today.”

Instead of aspiring for a seemingly impractical goal, Wheeler urged Newsom to prioritize and resolve power failures in California. Wheeler even suggested that the best solution is to lessen the regulation instead of adding to it. Moreover, the EPA administrator believed that Newsom could achieve both “tangible” economic and environmental progress by setting realistic goals. He also urged the governor to step away from being restricted to using “singular technologies.

In his recent executive order, Newsom ordered the ban of new-gas powered vehicles within 15 years to cut down carbon emissions. In a statement, Newsom believed that it would serve as the most “impactful” step that California had taken to stop climate change. He even reasoned out that his plan would allow communities to breathe and even hopefully put an end to devastating wildfires.

Others have also criticized Newsom’s newest order, citing that other automobile companies would dominate the market. However, the Governor was having none of it. In fact, he even alleged that the people who were opposing his legislation were “in denial” about facts and science.