MPCA Plans Public Information Sessions for Proposed Clean Car Rule

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(KNSI) – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is moving ahead with adopting the Clean Cars Minnesota rule, and virtual public information sessions about it are happening soon.

If it goes into effect, the rule would require automakers to supply more electric vehicles and new cleaner vehicles to be sold in the state. The proposal mirrors California’s move to set its own greenhouse gas emission limits outside of the Clean Air Act.

“MPCA’s analysis indicates that implementing this new rule will reduce over eight million tons of greenhouse gas emissions – the leading cause of climate change – as well as thousands of tons of other harmful air pollution in the first 10 years alone,” the MPCA says in a press release.

The Minnesota Auto Dealers Association has sued the MPCA over the Clean Cars Minnesota rule, saying the rule is preempted by federal law and is “bad for Minnesota consumers.”

The rule does not impact older vehicle models and does not mandate that consumers buy certain types of vehicles.

Virtual public information sessions began Tuesday morning and will continue on Wednesday at 5 p.m., January 27th at 1 p.m. and February 2nd at 6 p.m. The MPCA is also accepting public e-comments through mid-March.