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Clean cars in New Mexico: The road ahead
Report: clean cars help environment, consumers
At
a recent press conference, the Environment New Mexico Research &
Policy Center released a new report, “Ready to Roll: The Benefits of
Today’s Advanced-Technology Vehicles for New Mexico,” which describes
available clean car technology and calls for the adoption of the Clean
Cars program in New Mexico.
“If we’re going to tackle global
warming in New Mexico, we need to address pollution from the cars we
drive. The Clean Cars program would put tens of thousands of
advanced-technology cars, light trucks and SUVs on New Mexico’s roads,
and slash global warming emissions in the state,” said Lauren Ketcham,
advocate with Environment New Mexico.
Unless we act now, global warming could increase temperatures, raise the risk of wildfires and endanger water resources.
Relief from oil addiction
A
second report, “The Clean Cars Program: How States Are Driving Cuts in
Global Warming Pollution” found that the 12 states that have adopted
Clean Car standards could reduce gasoline consumption by as much as 8.3
billion gallons per year by 2020 and enable consumers to save up to
$25.8 billion annually.
“It’s a win-win situation. Reducing
global warming pollution from cars and SUVs will also start to reduce
our dependence on oil and save consumers money at the pump,” said
Ketcham.
States move forward as EPA delays
Environment
New Mexico’s reports arrive on the heels of a landmark Supreme Court
decision (Mass. v. EPA), which ruled that the Clean Air Act allows the
EPA to regulate carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants from
cars.
However, the EPA has been stalling on California’s
request for a waiver needed to move forward with its Clean Cars
program. Governor Richardson and Cabinet Secretary Ron Curry have both
urged the EPA to issue the waiver.
“As the Bush administration
spins its wheels and delays action on global warming, the states are
putting real solutions to work,” Ketcham said. “States must be allowed
to fight global warming.”
