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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 deliver extra electrical autos to the state and instantly profit New Mexicans. In response to the environmental, social justice, and enterprise teams that make up the NM Clear Air coalition, these advantages embody decrease transportation prices, cleaner air, and fewer excessive climate.
The coalition made this remark: “The EIB’s choice to maintain the clear automobiles requirements on the highway delivers a triple win for New Mexicans’ well being, financial system, and clear driving choices. These requirements are poised to slash dangerous tailpipe air pollution and save lives as they make New Mexico households, companies, and financial system much less tethered to unstable and dear gasoline that damages our local weather. We’re grateful that the board listened to New Mexicans throughout the state who need cleaner air, diminished transportation prices and a clear vitality future.”
The EIB held a public listening to 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 Automobile II requirements adopted final 12 months. A keep would have suspended the requirements.
The NM Clear Air Coalition defended the foundations from the problem and saved the clear automobile requirements in place.
“The brand new guidelines will generate thousands and thousands of {dollars} in well being and financial advantages by transitioning to wash transportation and vitality technology,” famous Ona Porter of Prosperity Works. “Transportation is the second highest climate-polluting sector within the state, behind oil and fuel extraction, so bringing extra zero-emission autos to the state can minimize tailpipe air pollution on the supply.”
The clear automobile requirements have been adopted on November 16, 2023, after a sturdy 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 aren’t 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 practically 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 autos.
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 reasonably priced on the level of sale. A brand new state EV tax credit score makes shopping for new or used clear autos even simpler and extra reasonably priced.
Backers of the clear automobile requirements made these extra feedback:
The Environmental Enchancment Board’s choice to uphold these critically necessary 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 fuel pump, improve the provision of zero-emission autos for customers to buy, and promote equitable entry to those autos for all New Mexicans. — Aaron Kressig, Transportation Electrification Supervisor, WRA
“New Mexico stays on the highway towards an environment friendly, reasonably priced, and clear transportation future,” mentioned Alex Eubanks, New Mexico State Consultant for the Southwest Power Effectivity Undertaking. “We stay up for working with policymakers, car producers, sellers, electrical utilities, business fleets, and residents throughout the state to make the New Mexico Superior Clear Vehicles requirements profitable.”
“The Lujan Grisham administration is listening to New Mexicans even when auto sellers aren’t. After an intensive professional and evidence-based listening to within the fall and buyer after buyer saying they’re not discovering the EVs they need within the state, the foundations handed. Then the legislature handed each EV tax credit and clear transportation gas requirements to assist the drive towards electrification, and the sellers nonetheless aren’t doing what their clients need. Fortunately, the Environmental Enchancment Board did,” mentioned Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Membership Rio Grande Chapter Director.
“Thanks to the Environmental Enchancment Board for the integrity of your management in upholding the Superior Clear Automobile Requirements which transfer us ahead on essential measures of local weather duty, public well being, and entry to cleaner vitality for all New Mexicans,” mentioned Rev. Clara Sims, New Mexico & El Paso Area Interfaith Energy & Gentle, Assistant Govt Director.
“We applaud the Environmental Enchancment Board for reinforcing their earlier ruling in assist of cleaner air for on a regular basis New Mexicans. The key automakers have repeatedly dedicated to all new automobiles being electrical by the mid-2030s. The clear automobiles guidelines let New Mexicans get a soar begin on car competitors, decrease prices and more healthy air for his or her communities,” mentioned Samantha Kao, Conservation Voters New Mexico Local weather & Power Director.
“Protecting these important clear automobile requirements on the highway will give New Mexicans cleaner air to breathe and extra clear autos to drive, new job alternatives and decrease transportation prices, and financial progress because the state strikes away from unhealthy and dear fossil fuels,” mentioned Kathy Harris, Director, Clear Autos at NRDC (Pure Sources Protection Council). “The Environmental Enchancment Board stood up for a clear vitality future benefitting all New Mexicans.”
“350 New Mexico congratulates the New Mexico Environmental Enchancment Board on their choice to maintain in place the newly enacted clear automobile requirements,” mentioned Tom Solomon, co-coordinator of 350 New Mexico. “These will assist New Mexicans entry the zero-pollution autos they’re demanding however can not but discover on automobile seller tons. EVs remove each local weather air pollution and the general public well being poisons in tailpipe exhaust, on high of the enjoyment of driving one. Properly carried out.”
Electronic mail from WRA, Western Reserve Advocacy.
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