Created: January 21, 2021 05:46 PM
There s a quirk in federal law regarding vehicle emissions that allows states two choices: follow the federal law or follow vehicle emission standards set by the state of California. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is in the process of adopting the California standards despite opposition from many legislators and the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. Nobody s mandating or pushing that anyone buy an electric vehicle, MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop testified this week before a Minnesota Senate committee. There is an infrastructure that is out there in Minnesota and is being built, but there are no requirements to buy one of these.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (CN) Minnesota car dealers took to federal court Wednesday to fight proposed changes to the state’s emissions rules for new automobiles, saying that the state’s ongoing rulemaking is preempted by federal environmental laws.
The regulations at issue would bring Minnesota’s emissions standards for new car sales up to par with those enforced in California. Minnesota would be the first Midwestern state to take up that elevated and contested standards, which were made possible by an Environmental Protection Agency waiver revoked in 2019.
Fourteen other states and the District of Columbia have also adopted the standard, which sets low targets for greenhouse-gas emissions and proportional minimums for zero-emission vehicles offered for sale to consumers.
Minnesota officials are moving forward with âclean carsâ standards, a plan intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase electric vehicle options for consumers, while also getting the state back on track toward meeting its climate change goals.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Friday announced that it plans to formally publish a draft rule on Monday that it had first proposed 15 months ago. If a state administrative law judge approves the plan early next year, the new standards would go into effect in early 2024, and would apply to model year 2025 vehicles.
Calling climate change an âexistential threatâ to Minnesota and a top priority of Gov. Tim Walzâs administration, MPCA Commissioner Laura Bishop said âthe size and scope of the climate crisis requires bold action from state government.â