City Petitions Air Board To Adopt Advanced Clean Vehicles Rule
This week, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Joint Air Quality Program (Air Quality Program), which administers and enforces local air quality laws for the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County on behalf of the City’s Environmental Health Department, petitioned the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board (Air Board), asking it to adopt new regulations that implement California’s Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks motor vehicle emission standards beginning with model year 2027. The rule requires auto manufacturers to deliver to New Mexico an increasing percentage of cars and light duty trucks with zero tailpipe emissions.
The Air Quality Program, in partnership with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), developed the proposed Advanced Clean Vehicles Rule. NMED recently petitioned the State’s Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) to adopt a nearly identical rule. Together, the Advanced Clean Vehicle Rules will work as part of a statewide program to ensure statewide compliance and cleaner air for all New Mexicans.
“Transportation is one of our largest contributions to greenhouse gas emissions in Albuquerque and we’re using all our tools to reduce those levels,” said Environmental Health Director Angel Martinez Jr. “This updated rule will help mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce air pollution, and improve the health of all our residents.”
If adopted, the proposed Advanced Clean Vehicles Rule would impose stricter emission standards for new motor vehicles in New Mexico beginning with model year 2027, the earliest that federal law allows New Mexico to implement the new standards. The Advanced Clean Vehicles Rule’s emission standards will improve air quality by reducing air pollution, especially along transportation corridors.
The City is asking the Air Board to put the petition on the agenda for its August 9, 2023 meeting, and for the Air Board to consider authorizing a joint hearing with the EIB to hear the proposed Advanced Clean Vehicle Rules together. Considering the City’s and State’s proposed rules together will ensure the standards are consistent statewide in accordance with federal requirements.
The Air Board’s agenda will be posted by August 9, 2023 and be available here: https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/air-quality-control-board/events/august-9-2023-air-quality-control-board-meeting