New Mexico becomes the latest state to adopt some of the country’s strictest vehicle emission rules.
In a news release, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office said the rules are “aimed at improving New Mexicans choices on all makes and models of zero emission vehicles while furthering the state’s ambitious climate goals and decreasing air pollution.”
“These rules will speed up much-needed investment in New Mexico’s electric vehicle and clean hydrogen fueling infrastructure, create new job opportunities and, most importantly, result in cleaner and healthier air for all New Mexicans to breathe,” Grisham said.
“These rules are a critical piece of the state’s overall strategy to reduce pollution from the transportation sector and will complement future legislative strategies,” the governor’s statement noted.
“By adopting these rules, New Mexicans will be first in line to receive zero emissions cars and trucks from auto manufacturers. The clean vehicle rules complement the existing Clean Cars rule adopted by the Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo Air Quality Control Board in 2022.”
The Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks, set annual targets for the sale of new zero emission cars and trucks over time.
These regulations are part of an overall federal Environmental Protection Agency mandate on reducing carbon in the air.
On June 5, 19 state attorneys general filed a petition challenging California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulations. These same regulations are the framework for New Mexico’s and other states’ rules after the EPA said it would grant waivers allowing California to create tighter regulations.
The Iowa Office of the Attorney General said in a news release, the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation will force the cost of new semi-trucks to run in the high six-figures.
The new regulations would require vehicle manufacturers to drastically cut smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter emissions (PM) from conventional gas and diesel engines, resulting in reductions of over 50,200 tons of NOx and 615 tons of PM when fully implemented.
“These new rules will ensure that all New Mexicans have access to a greater number of new zero and low-emission vehicle models, while hastening the transition away from polluting diesel and gasoline-powered cars and trucks,” said Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney. “We look forward to engaging with all New Mexicans on these proposed rules in the coming months.”
