At Bring Me The News, Shaymus McLaughlin reports in Minnesota can move ahead with Clean Cars program, judge says:
The much-debated Cleans Cars Minnesota program cleared a significant hurdle Friday when an administrative law judge recommended the proposed rules be adopted.
The report [embedded below] highlights three key conclusions:
- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) did indeed establish it has the statutory authority to adopt the Clean Car rules.
- The MPCA "complied with all procedural requirements of law and rule."
- The proposed rules are both "needed and reasonable."
"Therefore, the Administrative Law Judge APPROVES the proposed rules and recommends they be adopted," the order says.
The inception of Clean Cars Minnesota dates back to 2019, when Gov. Tim Walz directed the MPCA to begin a rulemaking process to adopt new standards for vehicle emissions.
As currently written, the rules would preserve currently existing standards regarding car emissions, and would also require dealerships to make more electric and hybrid vehicles available to purchase. These standards would not apply to existing or used vehicles, farm equipment or other heavy-duty vehicles. Nor would they mandate anyone purchase a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Fresh Energy, which supports the Clean Car Minnesota rules, described Friday's update as "the last major hurdle to final adoption." Other environmental groups also celebrated the news. Conservation Minnesota said Minnesota is "officially set to become a clean car state."
And Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy climate policy analyst, Carolyn Berniger, in an email statement, said:
“Minnesota must do more to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and adopting the Clean Cars rule is a critical step to do so. All Minnesotans will benefit from a more stable climate, reduced air pollution, and improved access to electric vehicles."
Fourteen states and Washington D.C. have adopted these types of clean car standards. Friday's ruling positions Minnesota to be the first Midwestern state to take such a step.
Clean Cars Minnesota has faced considerable pushback from state Republicans. They have argued the Legislature, not the MPCA, is responsible for creating and enforcing these standards.
Republicans say that it will increase the average price of new cars by $2,500, and while the Walz Administration concedes the rule will likely push the average price of new cars up, it will be closer to $1,000. It also argues those buying electric or more fuel-efficient vehicles would save more than that on gas, while electric car owners will also have reduced maintenance costs.
Earlier this week, the Senate GOP took the step of threatening to shut down of state parks, the DNR, the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and more, if the Clean Car Minnesota rules aren't rescinded. . . .
When the Minnesota Legislature's Environment omnibus conference committee met at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Minnesota House environment and natural resource committee chair Rick Hansen, DFL-S. St. Paul, made note of the ruling, but his Minnesota Senate counterpart Bill Ingebrigtsen,R-Alexandria, insisted that there was nothing to talk about until Hansen brought back an answer from the Walz administration about the Senate's demand that the rules be pulled.
Hansen noted that his own offer was from the Minnesota House, not the administration. Ingebrigtsen, who held the gavel, said there was nothing to talk about and adjourned the committee.
Time, after all, is running short.
We've been documenting The Grand Diva Bill's performance over the Clean Car standards in Wednesday's New low for #mnleg: Senate Republicans to shut down parks, Zoo & more over emission rules.
Then there was Thursday's posts: In the spirit of compromise, Sen. Ingebrigtsen denies shutdown strategy, makes offer, takes Senate members, logs out and goes home and Enviro Conference Committee: in no-drama move, House releases offer hours before meeting.
That meeting on Friday (May 7, 2021) essentially didn't happen--OAH rulling, House offer or not--what with all the North Woods flouncing and adjournment.
Here's the Senate Media Services YouTube:
Hansen's reminder that a roll call must be taken is a classic.
The Environment and Natural Resources Conference Committee is scheduled to convene tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Here's the OAH ruling:
OAH Ruling In the Matter of the Proposed Rules of the MPCA Adopting Clean Cars Minnesota Rules uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
A reminder that not everyone is as a Grumpy Cat about the ruling: the Natural Resources Defense Council Simon Mui reports in Minnesota Advances to Become First Midwest Clean Cars State:
The proposal to adopt a Clean Cars Minnesota program was given a greenlight today. An Administrative Law Judge ruled—as part of her report issued today—that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) could move forward based on the extensive, deliberative, and open process and after thousands of public comments and filings by stakeholders. The decision to greenlight the program, which would become final after additional procedural steps, effectively means Minnesota will become the first Midwest state to adopt a Clean Cars program to introduce more zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) together with cleaner internal-combustion engine vehicles into the state.
oday’s ruling also follows recent moves by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide permission back to states’ to enforce their clean car standards, reversing efforts by the prior Trump Administration to stymie states’ long held authority. The federal announcement effectively would allow Minnesota – as well as fourteen other states that have adopted clean car programs—to enforce their programs.
The adoption of the program is also a major win for Governor Walz who called upon MPCA to utilize their authority to adopt a Clean Cars MN program, as well as legislators who support cleaner and more affordable vehicles being available in the state. State leaders have recognized the program will deliver triple-wins for the state’s economy, public health, and the environment. As I discussed in a prior blog and reported in a study, the standards will:
- Deliver saving on average of $1,600 to new vehicle purchasers over the life of their vehicles thanks primarily to fuel savings;
- Reduce hundreds to thousands of tons of smog-forming pollutants annually together with millions of tons of climate change pollution
- Expand consumer access to electric vehicles while delivering hundreds of millions in fuel-related savings to the state.
The enormous benefits to the state are why nearly 50 organizations across the state and country—including businesses, public health organizations, consumer advocates, labor representatives, social justice, faith-based groups, and conservationists—support a Clean Cars Minnesota program. Minnesota’s is one major step towards clean transportation and a big win for the Midwest. . . . .
But Senator Bill has made his offer, and he's sticking to it...
Image: Cribbed from a rural EV Facebook forum.
Related posts:
- Enviro Conference Committee: in no-drama move, House releases offer hours before meeting
- In the spirit of compromise, Sen. Ingebrigtsen denies shutdown strategy, makes offer, takes Senate members, logs out and goes home
- New low for #mnleg: Senate Republicans to shut down parks, Zoo & more over emission rules
- [Star Tribune] Senate Republicans threaten to cut funding for Minnesota state parks, environmental programs over 'clean cars' rule
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