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The New Mexico Environmental Enchancment Board voted 4-1 yesterday to reject a problem to newly enacted clear automotive 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 keeping with the environmental, social justice, and enterprise teams that make up the NM Clear Air coalition, these advantages embrace decrease transportation prices, cleaner air, and fewer excessive climate.

The coalition made this remark: “The EIB’s determination to maintain the clear vehicles requirements on the street delivers a triple win for New Mexicans’ well being, economic 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 economic 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, decreased 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 searching for 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 principles from the problem and saved the clear automotive requirements in place.

“The brand new guidelines will generate tens of millions of {dollars} in well being and financial advantages by transitioning to scrub 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 automobiles to the state can reduce tailpipe air pollution on the supply.”

The clear automotive requirements had 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 usually are not at subject 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 automotive requirements require that beginning in 2026, 43% of all new passenger vehicles and light-duty vans shipped to New Mexico auto dealerships by nationwide auto producers have to 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 automotive requirements made these further feedback:

The Environmental Enchancment Board’s determination to uphold these critically necessary guidelines is a giant 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 automobiles for customers to buy, and promote equitable entry to those automobiles for all New Mexicans. — Aaron Kressig, Transportation Electrification Supervisor, WRA

“New Mexico stays on the street towards an environment friendly, inexpensive, and clear transportation future,” stated Alex Eubanks, New Mexico State Consultant for the Southwest Power Effectivity Undertaking. “We look ahead to working with policymakers, car producers, sellers, electrical utilities, industrial 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 usually are not. After an in depth 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 principles 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,” stated 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 important measures of local weather accountability, public well being, and entry to cleaner vitality for all New Mexicans,” stated Rev. Clara Sims, New Mexico & El Paso Area Interfaith Energy & Mild, 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 most important automakers have repeatedly dedicated to all new vehicles being electrical by the mid-2030s. The clear vehicles guidelines let New Mexicans get a leap begin on car competitors, decrease prices and more healthy air for his or her communities,” stated Samantha Kao, Conservation Voters New Mexico Local weather & Power Director.

“Holding these very important clear automotive requirements on the street will give New Mexicans cleaner air to breathe and extra clear automobiles to drive, new job alternatives and decrease transportation prices, and financial development because the state strikes away from unhealthy and dear fossil fuels,” stated Kathy Harris, Director, Clear Automobiles at NRDC (Pure Assets 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 determination to maintain in place the newly enacted clear automotive requirements,” stated Tom Solomon, co-coordinator of 350 New Mexico. “These will assist New Mexicans entry the zero-pollution automobiles they’re demanding however can not but discover on automotive supplier tons. EVs eradicate each local weather air pollution and the general public well being poisons in tailpipe exhaust, on prime of the enjoyment of driving one. Effectively performed.”

E mail from WRA, Western Reserve Advocacy.