Walz sticking with new auto emissions rules
Governor defends his Clean Cars Minnesota tailpipe emissions rule for 2025 vehicles. Senate Republicans are pressing him to postpone it until 2027 Author: John Croman Updated: 1:15 AM CDT May 22, 2021
ST PAUL, Minn. Republican state lawmakers say they re serious about cutting off funding to the DNR later this summer, and in the process closing state parks, if Gov. Tim Walz doesn t postpone his Clean Cars emissions standards.
It s one of the unresolved issues hanging over State Capitol headed into a June special session, where legislators must pass a two-year, balanced state budget in order to avoid a state shutdown.
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Senate Republicans threaten to cut funding for Minnesota state parks, environmental programs over ‘clean cars’ rule Source: By Jennifer Bjorhus, Greg Stanley and Briana Bierschbach, Minneapolis Star Tribune • Posted: Monday, May 10, 2021
GOP bill cuts funding unless rules reducing emissions are stopped.
May 5, 2021
Minnesota’s state parks could shut down in July if the Walz administration does not bow to demands by Senate Republicans to drop plans for new “clean cars” emissions standards.
Along with parks, much of the environmental arm of state government would shut down over the impasse, which flared up during a conference committee meeting Tuesday on the Senate’s proposed omnibus environment budget.
New vehicle emissions rule clears major hurdle
The Clean Cars Minnesota rule would apply to new cars sold in the state beginning with model year 2025. GOP lawmakers are still working to stop it or slow it down Author: John Croman Updated: 12:31 AM CDT May 8, 2021
ST PAUL, Minn. Gov. Tim Walz won a victory Friday in his push bring tougher vehicle emissions standards to this state, beginning with the 2025 model year.
An administrative law judge ruled the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency s rulemaking process for the Clean Cars Minnesota standards complied with state law, and the new rules will reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution here.
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More electric vehicles could soon be for sale on Minnesota car lots after an administrative law judge ruled Friday that the Walz administration can set new emissions standards without the OK of lawmakers.
The ruling by Judge Jessica Palmer-Denig clears the way for state regulators to adopt the new clean car rules that would require manufacturers to deliver more electric vehicles and hybrids to the state. It does not, however, resolve a standoff with Republican lawmakers that could still upend the administration s plans.
Republican lawmakers have opposed the new standards since Gov. Tim Walz first announced plans in 2019 to have the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) adopt them. Nearly two dozen Republican state senators and auto dealers from around the state argued to Palmer-Denig that new emissions standards should come from the Legislature, not the MPCA.