On Wednesday, the Minnesota Senate held a joint hearing with the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy and Legacy Committees regarding the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) intention to adopt the California Emission Standards through the administrative rulemaking process.
Governor Walz’s administration is seeking to implement California’s mandatory auto-emission standards on vehicles sold in Minnesota by bypassing the legislature and using the administrative rulemaking process.
“There’s no data that supports this change,” said Senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point). Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee. “This MPCA rule won’t solve any of our climate problems. According to their own website, light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles combined accounted for less than 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. Why force car costs to increase by up to $2,500, rather than focusing on other factors that contribute more emissions? There’s no concrete data showing that this move would substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
If adopted, the California Emission Standards will rattle Minnesota’s economy, raising transportation costs for lower-income residents and disproportionally hurting rural and border communities. Data suggests that new vehicles’ demand will drop 7.1% and that Minnesotans can expect to pay $800-$2,500 more per vehicle, not just on EVs.
The “proposed benefit” of the rules also seems questionable based on data from Minnesota and across the nation. Without adopting the standards, MnDOT’s forecast shows that gasoline usage has already hit its peak and is projected to decline exponentially in the future. Furthermore, states like Pennsylvania, which already have adopted the standards, have a smaller percentage of EVs than Minnesota.
This data suggests that Minnesota’s market is already moving towards cleaner and more efficient cars, with more models hitting lots yearly. Like the energy industry, consumers seem to be determining the trend with demand as EVs become more affordable and the technology becoming more accessible. Unfortunately, using their rulemaking power, the MPCA and Governor do not offer any financial incentive to consumers, expecting Minnesota families to front the bill.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has begun hosting public information sessions in the agency’s effort to impose the California Car Mandate on Minnesotans. In addition to conducting a public information session on Tuesday, the MPCA will be holding another one Wednesday, January 21, and additional sessions are scheduled for January 27 and February 2. You can find more information for them at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/clean-cars-mn-rulemaking.
Minnesotans who wish to submit public comments can either attend one of the planned virtual hearings, they can submit links via the Office of Administrative Hearings website https://mn.gov/oah/, or attend a public hearing. The hearings for public comments will take place virtually on February 22 and February 23 at 3 p.m.