Title
Approval of Los Alamos County Support of Clean Cars NM
Recommended Action
I move that Council support the New Motor Vehicle Emission Standards (the Clean Car Rule) and authorize the Chair to sign the letter of support attached.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the [enter type of item] as requested.
Body
Pollution from transportation accounts for a large portion of New Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the state’s growing ozone problem. Seven New Mexico counties are nearing problematic ground-level ozone levels, which cause respiratory illnesses and heart attacks, and disproportionately affect the state’s most vulnerable populations. New vehicle standards can significantly improve air quality, including ground-level ozone levels, especially along heavily traveled urban corridors where traditionally disadvantaged populations disproportionately live and work.
On June 24, 2021, the New Mexico Environment Department and the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department announced the start of a Clean Cars rulemaking process. Adopting low-emission and zero-emission standards for new cars and trucks offered for sale in New Mexico improves the air we breathe, gives consumers more choices, saves New Mexicans money, and is good for our planet. The proposed New Motor Vehicle Emission Standard is shown in Attachment B. The proposed Clean Car rule includes:
--Stricter emission standards for new cars and trucks offered for sale in the state
--Low-emission vehicle (LEV) standard that requires car manufacturers to offer new passenger cars and trucks in NM that produce fewer greenhouse gases and other harmful air pollutants than vehicles only subject to the federal standard
--Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) standard that requires manufacturers to offer for sale a minimum number of new, low- and zero-tailpipe emission vehicles(battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hydrogen...
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