NM’s bold step on EVs is a win for a cleaner future
As we head into the final month of 2023, we’re giving thanks for the courage of New Mexico leaders, who took bold action in November to adopt new standards limiting pollution from cars and trucks.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham proposed this action to save lives, curb climate change, and improve public health. The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board followed her lead and voted “yes” for cleaner air.
There’s something for every New Mexican to be grateful for in these new standards. The Clean Cars and Trucks standards are crucial for addressing rising gas costs, combating climate change, and safeguarding public health by limiting air pollution from vehicle tailpipes. These standards signal auto and truck manufacturers to deliver an increasing number of zero-emission electric vehicles to New Mexico, accelerating the transition to clean transportation.
The adoption of these standards is a significant step in addressing the public health crisis posed by transportation pollution in New Mexico, particularly affecting lower-income communities, communities of color, children, elders, and those with respiratory conditions. Electric vehicles are a pivotal solution to curbing toxic air and climate-changing pollution from the transportation sector.
The economic and health benefits of these standards are substantial. According to an analysis by ERM (Environmental Resources Management), the standards are projected to deliver up to $44 billion in total benefits through 2050, including about $1 billion in health benefits. The clean car standard alone is expected to cut nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, preventing premature deaths, hospital visits, and health complications.
Various stakeholders and hundreds of New Mexicans expressed their support for Clean Cars and Trucks during the rulemaking process and celebrated this historic decision.
Our optimism and gratitude extend to various organizations, professionals, and community voices, highlighting the potential for New Mexico to become a leader in clean and efficient transportation. With these standards in place, the state is poised to transition to electric vehicles to benefit people’s health, the climate, and wallets.
The new standards will make advanced technology vehicles more available in New Mexico. The next step is to deploy them. For example, Gov. Lujan Grisham directed state agencies to transition their fleets to zero-emission technology by 2035. All New Mexicans — businesses and individuals — should follow the governor’s lead and look closely at deploying plug-in vehicles for their needs.
Federal tax credits make zero-emission vehicles more affordable than they have ever been. Incentives are available for institutions, businesses, and individuals, regardless of tax liability. Starting in January, auto dealers can offer the federal tax credit as an up-front discount — a significant improvement to how the credit has worked in the past. PNM has proposed an upfront discount for limited-income people in their service territory as well. And the governor intends to propose a new state tax credit for clean vehicles at the state Legislature next year. We hope legislators will vote “yes” and make it even easier to access pollution-free driving.
Together, we can save money, make our air healthier to breathe, and fight climate change. That’s something we all can be grateful for.
Ana Rios is the mother project manager at Together for Brothers. Ona Porter is the founder emerita and clean energy leader at Prosperity Works. Tammy Fiebelkorn is the New Mexico representative for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. All three women represent the New Mexico Clean Air coalition, which includes consumer groups, EV drivers, conservation, climate, social justice, environmental justice advocates, businesses and leaders, local governments and elected officials, health voices, frontline communities, and labor representatives.
There is a climate change conference in the UAE, which the NM governor is attending. 70,000 people are attending — the majority flying there. Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? How much FOSSIL FUEL is being used to gather 70,000 people together to discuss stopping climate change? JEH
MLG is in Dubai for a CLIMATE CHANGE conference, clearly not aware that airlines are responsible for emitting CO2, roughly 4% of all greenhouse gases. It’s clearly a taxpayer funded “working” vacation. What will her contribution be as an expert on the topic? She’s never heard of Zoom/WebX? TC
Jerusalem became the capital of Israel over 3,000 years ago, 1,600 years before the birth of ISLAM. SS
Border wall keeping GAZANS out of Egypt — good; Border fence keeping Gazans out of Israel — bad. Huh? JP
The recent Black Friday incident at the CORONADO MALL proves a couple of points. One, the governor’s ban on guns is not working and second, until we get tougher with juvenile crime, it will not be safe to go anywhere in N.M. Hand claps are not working. GH
Re: RAW MILK being sold in grocery stores (Journal, 11/24). The Journal quotes City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn as saying, “This is just a money-making opportunity for the dairy industry.” What’s wrong with that? This just proves that Fiebelkorn is anticapitalist/socialist. We don’t need her or her ilk on City Council. DAW
Our newspaper lady, CATIE, is the best. Always smiling and so nice. She should have a reward as she comes out to Los Lunas and that is a long way at 5 a.m. for a senior. We so admire her as many people around us do nothing. God bless. Carol SollJC
For the fellow who wants to make comics “funny” again, we’re sorry that certain CARTOON features require a minimum IQ, but here is hoping the Journal sticks with what they have now. They are just fine as is. DJ
I wholeheartedly disagree with RJ that ”GET FUZZY” isn’t funny. Maybe RJ is confused on the built-up absurd dialog between characters. Keep “Fuzzy” and bring back the daily reruns of comics like you do with “Peanuts.” JE
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 protects minority voters from REDISTRICTING maps that dilute their voting power. The Democrat’s blatant violation of the VRA must be challenged in federal court, as they have, by design, diluted the minority white vote in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. SC
KP, you and too many others have been brainwashed by Fox News. It’s not news or truth. Just ignore the massive attack on Jan. 6, the Trump banners, PROUD BOYS, Oath Keepers and other thugs? Trump incited them to steal the election. Full accountability is what we should demand. MY
Property crime is out of control. Businesses are being looted and many are closing. APD won’t show up. Next election we need a NEW MAYOR and police chief. What are their priorities? It’s time to move on and elect an effective mayor. HJ
So if an individual makes a really bad decision to go HIKING IN JULY and not carry enough water it becomes the responsibility of rescuers to avert a tragic outcome? Sounds more like child neglect/ abuse and an unwillingness to take personal responsibility for making a poor choice. RC
Since City Councilmember Dan Lewis has no evidence or logic to show that cleaning our air will hamper economic development — it’s more likely the opposite is true — he resorts to the tired ploy of maligning his opponents. Don’t believe him, Albuquerque: CLEANER AIR is better for everybody. ST
The government is suing Meta because UNDERAGE kids are on Instagram without parental consent. Don’t parents give their consent when they give their kids cellphones? KP
For UNM’s next football contract: Do not include a buyout clause that pays if the coach is fired for poor performance or other negative qualities — otherwise, there’s no incentive to excel. No BUYOUT CLAUSES save UNM money. They emphasize good pay for good results. Simply put, stop rewarding poor performance. JK
Tell me again why the LOBOS fired nowMaryland head coach (Michael) Locksley? TB
UNM just fired it’s head football coach — again. What UNM really should do is fire the football program. Doesn’t matter who the coach is, the AD is or the president is — same result. LOSING RECORDS. Not worth the money in my book. DW
To be clear, while I am an avid Lobo fan, had the NMSU (men’s basketball program) debacle occurred at UNM, I’d be calling for Eddie Nuñez to step down. This is not a NMSU versus UNM issue. It’s simply the right thing to do. RF
Our governor spews delusional statements that her unconstitutional GUN BAN has decreased crime. Meanwhile, a 15-yearold runs through a crowded shopping mall brandishing a gun, firing it outside the building. And an armed man robs a clothing store across town, (and is) killed by police during pursuit. You are still wrong, governor. DM
A shoplifter with a long criminal record was killed by police near Cottonwood Mall. This is what happens when you don’t prosecute the small crimes. Big crimes follow. Misdemeanor shoplifting is followed by felony SHOPLIFTING and a shootout near a bookstore. This is Mayor Keller’s fault. JRM
I was a member of the Sierra Club in the ‘80s. Back then it did real conservation. Nowadays it’s hunky-dory with killing birds and whales and destroying habitat on a vast scale for wind and solar— all because their leadership has swallowed the BIG LIE of anthropogenic global warming. CD
ML didn’t do research on Melania Trump before his/her CHEAP SHOT on Nov. 26. Melania’s focus was on helping children avoid harm from cyberbullying. Her “Be Best” initiative was aimed at helping children be the best they can be. Melania’s initiative was similar to Mrs. Carter’s focus on mental health. TMP
Politicians, the public, and especially the Journal, should quit using the phrase ‘FREE FARE’ or ‘Zero Fare’ as it is decidedly inaccurate. These are law-abiding, taxpayer funded fares and every article published in the Journal should assert that fact. TT
As one New York Times headline said, “Gazan Civilians, Under Israeli Barrage, Are Being Killed at Historic Pace”. This is what the crowds are protesting. The Journal should stop referring to these protests as PRO-PALESTINE. The protests aren’t proPalestine, they’re against the wanton killing of civilians in Gaza. KC
Boo hoo. APD uses a Grappler to halt a fleeing STOLEN truck, which caused it to roll on its side. The Justice Department monitor calls that a use of force since the poor criminals in the truck were injured slightly.
Good for you APD, and keep it up. DO
How much money has Mr. Ginger from the DOJ made from his “overseeing” New Mexico’s law enforcement? (More than $10 million). APD gets a useful tool — the Grappler — that bangs up a couple criminals and Ginger whines about use of force. These are criminals, Ginger. Quit dragging your overpaid feet, enforce the law. AN
Reference the Nov. 24 letter “EVs are a stretch for NM,” why is no one is talking about the fact that it takes an enormous amount of mining to support SOLAR and wind energy and lithium-ion batteries. It is a huge factor in the equation. Is someone hiding facts? KKW
Councilman Dan Lewis, please understand that a city only does as well as its poorest neighborhoods. If the SW valley has been an “overburdened” zone from industry/ pollution, as reported 20 year ago, it’s time to do something. Doing nothing is IMMORAL. Do better, Albuquerque. We can if we will. AH
The Saturday, Nov 25 front page Journal article describing the annual lighting of the “Holiday” tree and referring to this “Holiday” season is a sad reminder of the POLITICAL CORRECTNESS that the Journal has adopted for an important Christian celebration known as Christmas. Et tu Brute? OP
Melania Trump was a model, a businesswoman and speaks five languages. She also championed ‘Be Best’ while in the White House. Perhaps she could have done more if she hadn’t been HARASSED and constantly stymied by progressive feminists. I think most, however, are simply envious of her looks. KJ