Governors of states that have implemented clean vehicle programs, such as New Mexico’s Advanced Clean Cars rule, are banding together following a U.S. Senate vote this week.
The Senate voted 51-44 this week to overturn a waiver that allowed the State of California to set air pollution standards for vehicles that are stricter than the federal standards. Other states have been able to choose to implement California’s standards and New Mexico is one of the states that did so.
The U.S. Climate Alliance, which is co-chaired by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, announced on Friday that the 11 states that have adopted policies to increase the number of zero-emissions vehicles have formed a coalition known as the Affordable Clean Car Coalition.
In addition to California and New Mexico, those states include Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
The U.S. Senate’s vote overruled the advice of the parliamentarian, who is a non-partisan staffer tasked with interpreting Senate rules.
Republicans have decried state clean vehicle programs like the Advanced Clean Cars rule as being “electric vehicle mandates” that disproportionately harm low-income and rural communities. At the state level, New Mexico Republicans pushed legislation this year attempting to overturn the clean cars rule and to prevent the Environmental Improvement Board from adopting or enforcing rules that prioritize one type of vehicle over another. While the bill made it through its first committee, it was tabled in its second committee.
New Mexico’s rule requires manufacturers to send increasing percentages of zero-emissions vehicles to dealerships in the state.
“The federal government and Congress are putting polluters over people and creating needless chaos for consumers and the market, but our commitment to safeguarding Americans’ fundamental right to clean air is resolute,” the 11 governors said in a joint statement on Friday. “We will continue collaborating as states and leveraging our longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act, including through state programs that keep communities safe from pollution, create good-paying jobs, increase consumer choice, and help Americans access cleaner and more affordable cars. As we consider next steps for our clean vehicle programs, our states will engage stakeholders and industry to provide the regulatory certainty needed while redoubling our efforts to build a cleaner and healthier future.”
The coalition plans to work together to develop solutions that make lower-emission vehicles more affordable and accessible. That could involve expanding access to charging stations.
The states also plan to explore opportunities for developing and adopting what they call “next-generation standards and programs” aimed at reducing vehicle pollution.
The U.S. Climate Alliance said in a press release that the coalition will also “foster meaningful engagement with manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, labor unions, business associations, utilities, community-based organizations, charging and fueling infrastructure providers and others in developing and successfully implementing state transportation solutions.”
What New Mexico lacks is smog check stations like those found in California. if yo dont pass smog test, yo dont register your car anyomore, it is junk !~
New Mexico probably doesnt need as stringent testing as California, but there are certain smog components like PCV and fuel vapor recovery systems that need regular inspections. Those are worst offenders if not passed and they make air pollution on streets where you breath . This is what matters the most…keep air pollution off streets, parking lots and highways .. Dont worry about air pollution thousands of feet over our heads.. they are of lower priorities.
Anti air pollution people have distorted sense of air pollution.. as if they dont mind breath street air pollution but worry more about air pollution where nobody is nearby.. They seem to aim to misappropriate funds toward the latter rather than the former as if to keep harming people close by.
We don’t need to be California, and we sure as hell don’t need emissions testing or for that matter more of MLG.