NM Air Quality Decision-Makers Vote to Continue New Clean Car Standards

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The New Mexico Environmental Enchancment Board voted 4-1 yesterday to reject a problem to newly enacted clear automobile requirements. Subsequently, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air High quality Management Board voted unanimously to reject the problem. These requirements will carry extra electrical automobiles to the state and immediately profit New Mexicans. In accordance with the environmental, social justice, and enterprise teams that make up the NM Clean Air coalition, these advantages embody decrease transportation prices, cleaner air, and fewer excessive climate.

The coalition made this remark: “The EIB’s decision to keep the clean cars standards on the road delivers a triple win for New Mexicans’ health, economy, and clean driving options. These standards are poised to slash harmful tailpipe pollution and save lives as they make New Mexico households, businesses, and economy less tethered to volatile and costly gasoline that damages our climate. We’re grateful that the board listened to New Mexicans across the state who want cleaner air, reduced transportation costs and a clean energy future.”

The EIB held a public hearing on March twenty second on the New Mexico State Capitol Constructing on a movement from auto sellers in search of a keep of the Superior Clear Automotive II requirements adopted final 12 months. A keep would have suspended the requirements.

The NM Clear Air Coalition defended the principles from the problem and saved the clear automobile requirements in place.

“The new rules will generate millions of dollars in health and economic benefits by transitioning to clean transportation and energy generation,” famous Ona Porter of Prosperity Works. “Transportation is the second highest climate-polluting sector in the state, behind oil and gas extraction, so bringing more zero-emission vehicles to the state can cut tailpipe pollution at the source.”

The clear automobile requirements have been adopted on November 16, 2023, after a strong 4-day joint public listening to, a number of stakeholder conferences, and three public conferences. The EIB and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air High quality Management Board (AQCB) adopted Superior Clear Vehicles II and Superior Clear Truck requirements. The truck requirements will not be at situation within the EIB continuing.

Throughout final fall’s public listening to, the boards heard overwhelming assist for the requirements, together with greater than 1,200 written public feedback in assist and almost 80 verbal statements of assist in comparison with lower than 20 in opposition.

The clear automobile requirements require that beginning in 2026, 43% of all new passenger automobiles and light-duty vans shipped to New Mexico auto dealerships by nationwide auto producers should be zero-emission automobiles.

Federal investments in New Mexico are bringing extra chargers to the state alongside interstates, rural and Tribal highways and offering tax incentives of as much as $7,500 to make EVs extra inexpensive on the level of sale. A brand new state EV tax credit score makes shopping for new or used clear automobiles even simpler and extra inexpensive.

Backers of the clear automobile requirements made these extra feedback:

The Environmental Enchancment Board’s determination to uphold these critically vital guidelines is an enormous win for the way forward for New Mexico’s local weather and air. The New Mexico Clear Vehicles requirements are an enormous step ahead within the state’s efforts to deal with local weather change and enhance air high quality. These requirements will save drivers cash on the gasoline pump, enhance the provision of zero-emission automobiles for customers to buy, and promote equitable entry to those automobiles for all New Mexicans. — Aaron Kressig, Transportation Electrification Supervisor, WRA

“New Mexico remains on the road toward an efficient, affordable, and clean transportation future,” mentioned Alex Eubanks, New Mexico State Consultant for the Southwest Vitality Effectivity Mission. “We look forward to working with policymakers, vehicle manufacturers, dealers, electric utilities, commercial fleets, and residents across the state to make the New Mexico Advanced Clean Cars standards successful.”

“The Lujan Grisham administration is listening to New Mexicans even if auto dealers are not. After an extensive expert and evidence-based hearing in the fall and customer after customer saying they’re not finding the EVs they want in the state, the rules passed. Then the legislature passed both EV tax credits and clean transportation fuel standards to support the drive toward electrification, and the dealers still aren’t doing what their customers want.  Thankfully, the Environmental Improvement Board did,” mentioned Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Membership Rio Grande Chapter Director.

“Thank you to the Environmental Improvement Board for the integrity of your leadership in upholding the Advanced Clean Vehicle Standards which move us forward on critical measures of climate responsibility, public health, and access to cleaner energy for all New Mexicans,” mentioned Rev. Clara Sims, New Mexico & El Paso Area Interfaith Energy & Gentle, Assistant Govt Director.

“We applaud the Environmental Improvement Board for reinforcing their earlier ruling in support of cleaner air for everyday New Mexicans. The major automakers have repeatedly committed to all new cars being electric by the mid-2030s. The clean cars rules let New Mexicans get a jump start on vehicle competition, lower costs and healthier air for their communities,” mentioned Samantha Kao, Conservation Voters New Mexico Local weather & Vitality Director.

“Keeping these vital clean car standards on the road will give New Mexicans cleaner air to breathe and more clean vehicles to drive, new job opportunities and lower transportation costs, and economic growth as the state moves away from unhealthy and costly fossil fuels,” mentioned Kathy Harris, Director, Clear Autos at NRDC (Pure Assets Protection Council). “The Environmental Improvement Board stood up for a clean energy future benefitting all New Mexicans.”

“350 New Mexico congratulates the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board on their decision to keep in place the newly enacted clean car standards,” mentioned Tom Solomon, co-coordinator of 350 New Mexico. “These will help New Mexicans access the zero-pollution vehicles they are demanding but cannot yet find on car dealer lots. EVs eliminate both climate pollution and the public health poisons in tailpipe exhaust, on top of the joy of driving one. Well done.”

Electronic mail from WRA, Western Reserve Advocacy.