Minnesota Pollution Control Agency moves ahead with clean car emission standards

Minnesota is moving ahead with new proposed clean car standards, which will apply to new vehicles starting with model year 2025, pending approval from an administrative law judge. 

The proposed rule would adopt new emission standards used in more than a dozen other states, including California. The standard will only apply to cars, sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, and does not apply to off-road vehicles, farming equipment, used vehicles or heavy-duty vehicles. It also would require more carmakers to deliver more battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models for sale in Minnesota, increasing each year. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) intends to publish notification of the new rule on Monday, with a two-day hearing scheduled starting on Feb. 22. 

California and other states fought to maintain clean car standards after the Trump administration moved to roll back existing emission standards for new cars. 

“Minnesotans expect action to address our current climate crisis. That’s why the MPCA is using every available tool to address greenhouse gas emissions, including clean car standards that reduce emissions and increase electric vehicle options,” said Laura Bishop, MPCA commissioner. 

State Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, criticized the decision, saying it would likely raise the cost of vehicles. “The Walz administration is making cars more expensive and forcing auto dealers to accept cars and take up inventory with vehicles that many rural Minnesotans simply aren’t buying,” he said. Electric vehicles currently make up a small percentage of cars sold in the state, he noted. 

Supporters of the clean car standard praised the move, however.

“It is no secret that we are behind on our carbon reduction goals, as set by the bipartisan Next Generation Energy Act,” said Michael Nobel, executive director of Fresh Energy, in a statement. “Tried-and-true policies like clean car standards will get us back on track by reducing climate change-causing pollution, while also improving our public health and ensuring Minnesotans have the clean car choices they want.”

Paul Austin, executive director of Conservation Minnesota, said the new rule “is an important step to address the number one source of climate change-causing pollution in our state and ensure future generations are able to experience Minnesota’s great outdoors the same way we have.”