MLG is BIG MAD over end of EV mandate!

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s latest defeat at the hands of the Trump Administration came recently when bipartisan majorities in BOTH houses of Congress (including New Mexico Democrat Gabe Vasquez) voted to overturn California’s exemption to federal emissions regulations. This exemption has been expanded dramatically in recent years to the point that California’s plan was to eliminate the internal combustion engine from the state by 2035. Also, other “blue” states like New Mexico had been using the exemption to enact their own EV mandates. In New Mexico that meant 82% of all vehicles sold by 2032 would be EV’s. 

But, Congress and President Trump acted to end California’s exemption. Of course, New Mexico car dealerships were only selling 5.53% EV’s as the mandated 43% EV sales requirement was kicking in. So, New Mexico is nowhere near achieving MLG’s goal.

What’s next? It looks like MLG and the other left wing governors are going to be rather limited in their next steps as this article notes: they have formed the “Affordable Clean Car Coalition.” What will that coalition do? The answer is, “not much.” According to the Coalition’s statement:

We will continue collaborating as states and leveraging our longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act, including through state programs that keep communities safe from pollution, create good-paying jobs, increase consumer choice, and help Americans access cleaner and more affordable cars. As we consider next steps for our clean vehicle programs, our states will engage stakeholders and industry to provide the regulatory certainty needed while redoubling our efforts to build a cleaner and healthier future.

The coalition plans to work together to develop solutions that make lower-emission vehicles more affordable and accessible. That could involve expanding access to charging stations.

The states also plan to explore opportunities for developing and adopting what they call “next-generation standards and programs” aimed at reducing vehicle pollution.

Of course, Americans already have ready access to EV’s and New Mexico continues to subsidize them directly as well as charging stations for them. Aside from spending even more tax money on subsidies there’s not much else to be done by MLG (thankfully). MLG has consistently pushed for unrealistic and costly environmental goals throughout her time in office. Like the Wicked Witch of the West all she can do is shriek while her power wanes.