Colorado Adopts Clear Vehicles Requirements, However Leaves Advantages On The Desk

In a win for the local weather, public well being, and Coloradan’s pocketbooks, Colorado officers have adopted a brand new Clear Vehicles coverage, making certain that residents could have entry to extra electrical and hybrid autos.

In 2022, transportation was the primary supply of greenhouse fuel emissions within the state and a number one supply of poisonous air air pollution. Transitioning to scrub, electrical autos is a key resolution to reducing these emissions. Colorado’s Clear Vehicles coverage will:

• Sustain with super shopper demand and increase resident’s choices for clear automobile fashions
• Cut back greenhouse fuel emissions and harmful air air pollution like nitrogen oxide (NOx)
• Cut back the price of automobile possession and increase the clear financial system domestically
• Make the electrical energy grid extra dependable and decrease utility payments for everybody, even households with out an electrical automobile
• Sign to auto producers that clear autos are right here to remain.

As adopted, the brand new coverage requires rising numbers of latest clear vehicles to be bought within the state annually, till 82% of latest autos bought within the state are electrical or plug-in hybrid by 2032. Advocates, together with NRDC, pushed for a whole model of this system, which reaches 100% of latest autos bought by 2035, as adopted by 8 different states to-date.

Whereas the Air High quality Management Fee finally opted to undertake a partial rule by means of 2032, the state made it clear that it nonetheless intends to assist facilitate a zero-emission automobile transition will think about full adoption of the rule no later than 2029.

Colorado’s new Clear Vehicles commonplace would require an rising proportion of gross sales of electrical and plug-in hybrid autos by means of the yr 2032 with 82% of latest autos bought. The State dedicated to re-evaluating the chance to increase the usual to succeed in 100% of latest automobile gross sales.

Whereas Colorado might undertake the complete rule sooner or later, Colorado’s present choice to finish the rule a number of years early leaves many advantages on the desk. Evaluation by ERM discovered that there are greater than $20 billion in extra public well being and local weather advantages with a full program by means of 2035 in comparison with a partial adoption by means of 2032. Each extra yr of a Clear Vehicles program would keep away from extra untimely deaths and hospital visits by means of abated nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. And since autos can keep on the street for 15 or extra years, the earlier that Colorado achieves 100% new zero-emission automobile gross sales, the earlier all autos on Colorado’s street can be zero-emission — serving to the state obtain their targets.

Colorado is prepared for clear vehicles

Coloradans are shopping for electrical autos as quick as they’re made, and zero-emission automobile gross sales had been 10.5 p.c of latest automobile gross sales in 2022 — and reached 12% new gross sales within the first half of 2023. State applications and utilities are working to construct a strong community of charging stations to maintain tempo, together with in public areas, quick charging for on-the-go, and thru rebates for dwelling charger set up.

Electrical autos save drivers cash in lowered gasoline and upkeep prices, and federal, state and utility incentives mix to make EVs extra reasonably priced than ever. Coloradans are eligible for as much as a $7,500 federal tax credit score, a $5,000 Colorado tax credit score, and probably extra credit together with from a purchaser’s utility.

The state’s new Clear Vehicles program will be certain that Colorado residents have entry to much more fashions of EVs to satisfy everybody’s wants, from SUVs to pickup vans, minivans, and compact reasonably priced fashions.

Whereas we sit up for a future rulemaking for Colorado to undertake the complete rule, Colorado took an essential step at this time by adopting new Clear Automotive requirements that may assist to supply vital advantages to the state and its residents, and we thank the Air High quality Management Fee for paving the best way in direction of a clear automobile future. Now, we glance in direction of the opposite six states that at present have ongoing Clear Vehicles rulemaking processes — New Mexico, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine — and name on them to maximise the advantages of a clear transportation future by adopting full clear vehicles applications.

Republished from NRDC Skilled Weblog. By Kathy Harris, Senior Advocate, Clear Autos and Fuels, Local weather & Clear Power Program, Alana Miller, Director, Colorado Local weather Coverage, Local weather & Clear Power Program

Associated: Colorado targets 82% EV gross sales by 2032 however delays choice on full gas-powered automobile phaseout

Featured picture courtesy of Kyle Area | CleanTechnica