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Home My WebLink About6.a. Supporting Clean Cars MN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Environment & Sustainability Commission Meeting: February 16, 2021 AGENDA SECTION: AGENDA ITEM: Supporting Clean Cars MN New Business PREPARED BY: Jane Byron, Stormwater Specialist AGENDA NO. 6.a. ATTACHMENTS: Clean Cars MN Factsheet APPROVED BY: BLE RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion DISCUSSION: The State of Minnesota is currently going through the Clean Cars Minnesota rulemaking. Clean Cars MN seeks to ensure that Minnesotans continue to have access to Low Emission Vehicles and more access to Zero Emission Vehicles in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to their impact on climate change. The rulemaking is currently accepting comments through March 15. The purpose of the discussion is to decide whether the ESC would like to recommend support for and comment on the Clean Cars MN rulemaking. More about the program can be viewed on the Clean Cars MN engagement website https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/clean-cars-mn and rulemaking website https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/clean-cars-mn-rulemaking. SUMMARY: No action required. C:\\Users\\jab\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\6.a. Supporting Clean Cars MN_635121\\6.a. Supporting Clean Cars MN.docx Vehicle emissions standards 101 All cars, trucks, and SUVs that have an internal combustion engine produce some amount of tailpipe pollution. Emissions standards set pollution limits to protect our health and the environment, and can also lead to improved fuel efficiency. As our federal government has pushed for cleaner cars, the auto industry has responded by investing in innovation and creating cleaner, more efficient models to meet more stringent emissions standards. Drivers benefit from saving money at the pump, and we all benefit from cleaner air to breathe and a better climate. Clean Cars Minnesota rule The MPCA is proposing to adopt clean cars standards to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase electric vehicles (EVs) in Minnesota. clean cars mn How the clean cars standards work The Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standard sets limits for GHG emissions and other harmful air pollution for new light- and medium-duty vehicles. The LEV standard sets tailpipe emissions standards for auto manufacturers to achieve—standards they have been meeting successfully since 2012. It doesn’t affect used vehicles or require emissions testing. Adopting the LEV standard now would require auto manufacturers to continue producing cleaner, more efficient passenger vehicles and to continue delivering those models for sale here in Minnesota. The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standard works differently. This standard requires auto manufacturers to deliver more zero emissions vehicles, like battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) for sale in Minnesota, increasing each year. Did you know: Since 2012, all of the new cars, trucks, and SUVs on the lot in Minnesota have met the LEV standard. How is that possible, if Minnesota hasn’t adopted the LEV standard yet? From 2012 until 2020, the federal standard and the LEV standard were the same. So if you purchased a new vehicle anywhere in the U.S. in the last 8 years, you’re already benefiting from a cleaner, more fuel- efficient vehicle that meets the LEV standard. The standards matched until 2020, when the U.S. EPA moved to roll back the federal GHG emissions standards. LEVs are already here aq-rule4-10u Why we should adopt the Clean Cars Minnesota rule Taking action for a better climate Minnesota has a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 80% by 2050, but we’re not on track to meet our goal. Ensuring that Minnesotans have access to the cleanest cars available is a practical strategy that will help Minnesota move in the right direction. As more older, higher-emitting vehicles are replaced by cleaner LEV-certified vehicles, BEVs, and PHEVs each year, the emissions reductions will increase. Minnesota will see cleaner air and more climate benefits over time. Figure 1: Annual well-to-wheel GHG emissions reductions, beginning with model year 2025 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 -0.0 CO2e emissions reduced (million tons)Key fact: In the first 10 years of implementation, the Clean Cars Minnesota rule would reduce GHG emissions by 8.4 million tons. Benefits for consumers Cost savings Minnesotans who purchase a new LEV-certified vehicle can expect to save money at the pump because LEV-certified cars, trucks and SUVs are more efficient. Since EVs have reduced fuel and maintenance costs compared to vehicles with internal combustion engines, Minnesotans who purchase a new EV would also see cost benefits. More consumer choice for EVs There are more makes and models of EVs available in states that have adopted the ZEV standard than we can easily acquire here. Minnesotans should have access to the new electric SUVs, cars, and pickups entering the market. EVs currently make up less than 1% of new cars on the lot in the Twin Cities metro area (and less than 0.3% in Greater Minnesota)—that’s not a lot of choices for consumers to consider. More new EVs on the market here could lead to more used EVs becoming available for consumers, too. Most popular models still available In 2019, Minnesota’s top-selling vehicle was the Chevrolet Silverado. In every state that has adopted clean car standards so far—California is the sole exception—the most popular vehicle is either a pickup truck or an SUV, indicating that dealers continue to sell these vehicles and their availability has not been affected. Learn more about GHG emissions reductions (pages 77-78) and other parts of MPCA’s analysis in our Statement of need and reasonableness (SONAR). All page numbers refer to the SONAR, available on the Clean Cars rulemaking webpage. Pages 70–75 Pages 47–50 Page 41 Supporting healthy communities Reduces other harmful air pollution from vehicles In the first 10 years of implementation, MPCA estimates the Clean Cars Minnesota rule would reduce 6,000+ tons of non-methane organic gases and nitrogen oxides, and 3,000+ tons of particle pollution. Protects our health MPCA analysis indicates that implementing the Clean Cars Minnesota rule could prevent between 62-348 premature deaths from the respiratory and cardiovascular health effects of air pollution in the first 10 years of implementation. Emergency room visits, hospital admissions, non-fatal heart attacks, acute bronchitis, respiratory symptoms, asthma, and work-loss days could also be reduced. Supports environmental justice Lower income communities and communities of color in Minnesota are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from vehicles. Overburdened communities would experience the greatest air quality benefits from the Clean Cars Minnesota rule and reduced vehicle emissions. Timeline for implementing clean car standards If MPCA completes this rulemaking in 2021, implementation would not begin until 2024 (vehicle model year 2025). Clean Cars MN rulemaking finishes in 2021 Federally required two-year waiting period (Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2023) Model year 2025 is first possible model year affected by Clean Cards MN rule 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Jan. 1, 2024 Earliest date Clean Cars MN rule could take effect For more information Web: mn.gov/cleancars Email: cleancarsmn.pca@state.mn.us Key fact: The economic value of these avoided health impacts is an estimated $560 million–$3.2 billion. Pages 79–91