What's New
After receiving thousands of public comments, reviewing thousands of
pages of information and listening to hours of technical testimony, on
November 27 the Environmental Improvement Board and the
Albuquerque-Bernalillo Air Quality Control Board voted to adopt the
Clean Cars Program in New Mexico.
Cleaner
cars are good for New Mexicans. They reduce global warming and air
pollution emissions, while saving consumers money at the pump. That’s
why Environment New Mexico worked closely with Governor Richardson,
Mayor Chavez, the New Mexico Environment Department and the Albuquerque
Environmental Health Department in the Clean Cars rulemaking.
Unfortunately,
these Clean Car standards are already under attack. Four state
legislators and a handful of businesses have filed a frivilous lawsuit
against the Environmental Improvement Board, claiming they lack the
authority to adopt the standards. Car dealerships are also suing the
state of New Mexico in federal court, claiming that the Clean Car
standards violate law which prohibits states from adopting fuel economy
standards. And, in December 2008, over the objections of his technical
and legal staff, EPA Administrator Johnson denied New Mexico and twelve
other Clean Car states a waiver from the U.S. EPA which they need
before the greenhouse gas portion of the program can go into effect.
States and environmental groups are in court challenging this decision.
How You Can Help
Email
Representative George Hanosh, Senator John Arthur Smith, Senator
Timothy Jennings and Representative Jim Trujillo. Tell them to drop
their lawsuit and stop playing games with New Mexico's clean car
standards.
E-mail Governor Richardson and thank him for his leadership on the Clean Cars Program.
Brief Summary
Scientists agree that global warming is real, that its being caused
by humans and that we need to dramatically reduce our emissions
beginning immediately and through mid-century if we’re to avoid the
worst consequences of a warming planet. This warming—which is leading
to unpredictable weather patterns, drought and increased levels of
ground-level ozone—is already having profound implications for New
Mexico.
Over the last century, average annual temperatures in the
Southwestern United States have increased. These changes have led to
smaller snow packs and earlier snowmelts, decreasing available drinking
water supplies and increasing the risk of spring flooding, summer
droughts and more intense fire seasons.
Transportation is New
Mexico’s second largest source of carbon dioxide pollution—responsible
for more than one-quarter of the state’s emissions in 2000. And because
there are more cars on the road and people are driving more, the
problem is only getting worse. Putting cleaner cars on the roads in New
Mexico is a critical first step toward cutting our global warming
pollution.
Luckily, cleaner, more efficient car technology is
available that reduces global warming and air pollution emissions,
while saving consumers money at the pump.
The Clean Cars Program
reduces global warming and air pollution emissions in three ways.
First, it sets strong standards for emissions of toxic air pollutants.
Second, its technology-driving component promotes advanced-technology
vehicles such as hybrids and electric cars. Third, the program
establishes fleet-wide average limits on emissions of pollutants that
contribute to global warming.
Under the regulations, by 2016, new
cars would emit 34 percent less global warming pollution and new trucks
would emit 25 percent less. Tailpipe emissions of conventional air
pollutants will also be reduced, making New Mexico’s air easier to
breathe.
Cleaner cars are a win-win for New Mexicans. These
vehicles reduce our dependence on foreign oil, save consumers money at
the gas pump and protect pristine wild places from oil and gas
development.
