
Clean car rules remain, despite another attempt to block
Feb. 13—SANTA FE — Another attempt to block a state mandate requiring an increased stock of electric vehicles delivered to New Mexico car dealerships has seemingly failed. The Senate Conservation Committee on Thursday tabled Senate Bill 139 on a 5-3 party-line vote.
The legislation, with both Democratic and Republican sponsors, would directly oppose clean car rules adopted in 2023 by Albuquerque and state environmental boards, similar to an appeal denied by the New Mexico Court of Appeals to block the rules. However, since the Senate Conservation Committee voted 5-3 to table the legislation, the effort has stalled.
Starting next year, the clean car rules require that 43% of all cars and light-duty trucks that manufacturers ship to auto dealerships in New Mexico must be zero-emission vehicles. Similarly, 15% of all commercial heavy-duty trucks shipped to dealerships must be zero-emission.
The percentages increase over time: 51% clean car deliveries by model year 2028, 59% clean car deliveries by model year 2029, 68% clean car deliveries by model year 2030, 76% clean car deliveries by model year 2031, and 82% clean car deliveries by model year 2032.
Bill proponents voiced concerns about a lack of charging stations in New Mexico and that rural residents, particularly those working in agriculture, are unable to use EVs to transport heavy tools or materials.
There is a stark disparity in charging infrastructure in rural areas compared to urban areas in New Mexico. Of the 326 charging station in the state as of November, 73% are concentrated in metropolitan areas, according to a legislative policy report from December. That leaves 27% of stations in rural areas, including 4% located on tribal lands.
While the New Mexico Department of Transportation plans to fill out infrastructure in the later years of its five-year interstate corridor buildout plan, according to the report, a federal administration seeking to block funding initiatives like EV chargers could complicate that.
The Federal Highway Administration in 2024 announced a $63.8 million grant to install charging centers in Hidalgo and Doña Ana counties. But earlier this month, the FHA announced it would suspend states' EV infrastructure rollout plans.
It's unclear if that money has been allocated or spent yet; the state's Department of Transportation didn't respond by time of publication to requests for information.
Meanwhile, Larry Behrens, spokesperson for Power the Future, said the FHA suspension of the federal EV charger funding program is long overdue.
"The reality is very simple: if electric vehicles, and their infrastructure, were in real demand, then taxpayers wouldn't need to spend billions to prop them up. ... Taking away public dollars from this program and letting New Mexicans decide what they want to drive is a great step toward fiscal sanity," he said.
And, New Mexico has fewer charging stations than the average of similar states and the nation. However, it also has better EV-to-charging station ratios at 46.6 EVs to one station, compared to the national average of 87.
Less than 1% of cars or other light-duty vehicles statewide are EVs, according to the report, though adoption has grown over the past decade.
Advocates for SB139 argued the mandates could force local car dealerships out of business if salespeople aren't able to sell the EVs they acquire. Plus, the rules don't bar people from purchasing gas vehicles out of state, said Senate Minority Whip Pat Woods, R-Broadview, the bill's sponsor.
That's why bill expert Ken Ortiz, with the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association, said the rule does "nothing to clean up the air."
Transportation is the state's second-largest greenhouse gas emissions source, accounting for 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to the legislative report. Transportation is the leading emitter of greenhouse gases nationwide.
The still-standing clean car rule is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 62%, nitrogen oxides by 43% and particulate matter by 24% from the transportation sector, according to the report.
There are other ways for the SB139 to resurface, like a by committee motion to reconsider or reintroduction through blank legislation known as "dummy bills," so it's not definitively the end of the line.
"This bill is not about electric vehicles. ... The bill is about government mandates, where the government is trying to tell New Mexicans what vehicles they should be driving," Woods said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AESC halts construction of US EV battery plant
AESC Group, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, has halted construction of an electric vehicle (EV) battery cell manufacturing plant in the US due to political uncertainty and weakening market demand. The US$ 1.6 billion facility had been under construction in Florence, South Carolina, to supply German automaker BMW's nearby vehicle manufacturing operations from 2026. Local politicians have blamed the suspension of the project on the 'potential discontinuation' of federal tax incentives for EV buyers and corporate tax incentives for manufacturers by the new US administration led by President Donald Trump. Chinese-owned AESC confirmed in a statement that 'due to policy and market uncertainty, we are pausing construction at our South Carolina facility at this time.' The company said it will restart construction of the plant when market conditions become more favourable, without providing a possible new timeline. AECS said it had already invested US$ 1 billion in the Florence plant, which was expected to directly employ some 1,600 workers. The company, which had previously also cancelled plans to build a second battery plant in South Carolina, also has a battery plant in operation in the US state of Tennessee and one under construction in Kentucky. It also has battery plants in China, Japan, France, Spain and Germany. BMW confirmed that the suspension of the AESC plant will not affect its plans to build a battery pack assembly facility in Greer, South Carolina, which is scheduled to become operational in 2026. AESC's decision to suspend construction of the plant follows the high-profile opening of the company's new battery cell manufacturing plant in Douai, France, earlier this month. "AESC halts construction of US EV battery plant" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio


Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
LA's Only Elected Republican Reacts to National Guard Troops, ICE Raids
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The only elected Republican in Los Angeles, Kathryn Barger, warned that there must be close coordination between federal, state, and local agencies if President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to quell the city's riots is to work. Her warning, in an email to Newsweek, comes as Trump clashes with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, over his deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines. Newsom and Bass oppose the moves, accusing the Republican president of fueling the disorder. Barger, a Los Angeles County Supervisor, is the sole Republican elected to office at the local government level in the LA area. There are no other Republicans on the LA County Board of Supervisors, and none at all elected to the LA City Council. She also called for "transparency, accountability, and respect" from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as it conducts raids across LA, operations that sparked the unrest. Protests in the city against raids by ICE over the weekend have descended into riots and looting. The raids are part of the Trump Administration's effort to deport all illegal immigrants from the U.S., with an emphasis on violent criminals. Newsom and Bass said state and local authorities can handle the situation without National Guard troops. But Trump says he is reestablishing law and order after failures by local and state leadership. "The deployment of National Guard troops is a significant action that must be approached with great care and coordination," Barger told Newsweek. "While I understand the urgency that may prompt federal involvement, I believe any such deployment must be done in close partnership with state and local agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. "Effective use of this powerful resource depends on clear communication, mutual goals, and a unified command structure. "My focus remains on making sure that all efforts—federal, state, and local—are aligned to deliver real support where it's needed most." This picture taken on June 8, 2025 shows a protestor raising their fist while holding a Mexican flag in front of a Waymo vehicle that was set on fire during a demonstration following federal immigration... This picture taken on June 8, 2025 shows a protestor raising their fist while holding a Mexican flag in front of a Waymo vehicle that was set on fire during a demonstration following federal immigration operations in Los Angeles. More BLAKE FAGAN/AFP via Getty Image Barger also urged ICE to minimize "fear and disruption among law-abiding residents." "Immigration enforcement is a deeply complex and sensitive issue, especially in a diverse region like Los Angeles County," Barger told Newsweek. "Federal agencies like ICE are tasked with upholding the law and I believe it's critical that their operations are conducted with transparency, accountability, and respect for the communities they affect. "My priority is ensuring that all enforcement actions are carried out in a way that upholds public safety while minimizing fear and disruption among law-abiding residents. "Local and federal agencies must work together thoughtfully to maintain trust, protect civil liberties, and ensure due process is respected at every level." This is a developing article. Updates to follow.

USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
All us billionaires who voted Patronis must be celebrating ‘Big Beautiful Bill'
All us billionaires who voted Patronis must be celebrating 'Big Beautiful Bill' | Letters Show Caption Hide Caption PNJ Headlines: Here's what's in the news Tuesday People react to arrest of woman with dementia, Santa Rosa zoning board controversy, and Seventy1 Bistro in Tuesday's news Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are those of our readers and not the Pensacola News Journal. In order for letters to be considered for publication, they must be 250 words or less and include your full name, address and phone number. Only your name and city of residence will be published. Submission does not guarantee publication. Email submissions to opinion@ All us billionaires who voted for Patronis must be celebrating now To all voters in House District 1, there was a special election on April 1. Just recently, you were asked to exercise your constitutional right to vote for your representative. The race was between Democrat Gay Valimont and Republican Jimmy Patronis. And Jimmy Patronis won. Thank you to all who voted. Just to point out that your vote counts, the U.S. House of Representatives voted this week on the 'Big Beautiful Budget' that will cut Medicaid, SNAP, and Meals on Wheels to name just a few things. And this budget will also give tax breaks to all of you billionaires. The amazing thing is that it passed by one vote! It comes down to what is important to you. If more people had voted to elect Gay Valimont, that bill would not have passed, we would not have the possibility giant cuts to Medicaid and the other cuts in this Budget. Since more people voted for Jimmy Patronis, there is the possibility that huge tax cuts will be available for the very rich. Which will affect you? If Gay Valimont had been elected on April 1, you would have been responsible for saving Medicaid and disappointing those billionaires in the neighborhood. Please don't think that your vote doesn't count. Because it does. It did. And will continue to matter. Donna Grace, Gulfport Perhaps neighborhood developers should take bear habitat into consideration Whose fault is it that bears are "encroaching" on our neighborhoods? For how many years and how many acres have people encroached on bear habitat? Maybe those responsible for giving permission for development should identify bear habitat and consider the bears. Then maybe the bears would not get a death sentence from those who moved into their land. Perhaps redevelopment of rundown areas could be considered, instead. Meg Melvin, Pensacola Pensacola Beach could do more to give warning flags better visibility As a resident of Santa Rosa and Escambia counties off and on for almost 50 years, Pensacola Beach is a big part of my life. You hear about the beach warning flag system daily on the news, which is a great thing. Arriving on Santa Rosa Island from the Bob Sikes Bridge, you immediately see the warning flag color (which can change throughout the day). If you set up at the Casino Beach parking lot, you are one of the few lucky ones that can see the warning flag. We recently rented 102 Ariola Drive for the week. There were 13 of us of whom only two could see what color the warning flag was that was flying at the end of the pier. The lifeguard trucks that roam the beach have what amounts to a small piece of colored cloth attached under a surfboard. There are a lot of American flags flying on the shoreline, but not one beach warning flag! People are chastised and berated for not following the warning flags that they cannot see! The warning flag system is a great idea but can only be followed if it is visible. It seems the lifeguard trucks can put in a little effort and fly a warning flag. Also, if you display the warning flags along with the American flags, they would be visible to many and do the job they were intended to do, save lives. Cyndi Schumaker, Milton Donald Trump's corruption must be resisted As the continuing blatant immorality and corruption of Donald Trump seems inevitable, the temptation to just accept it increases. But he will be stopped! We cannot just give up. Our voices of protest must continue to mobilize the people. Stopping Trump won't end the threat to the United States and our system of government. The demise of Marx and Hitler did not end Marxism and Fascism. Trumpism has spread to a large portion of our population. The resistance to the threat they project must continue. Our vigilance and action against them will continue. The extreme right of neo-Nazis and white Christian nationalists will not go away. But their political aims can be suppressed. Michael Gilbert, Jay Memorial Day is not for veterans, but for those who gave all This weekend is not Veterans Day. It's Memorial Day — a time not to thank the living, but to honor the fallen. I say this with the utmost sincerity, please do not thank veterans this weekend. Those of us who are veterans have our day in November. Memorial Day is for our brothers, sisters, and siblings who gave everything — the ones who didn't come home. When you thank us now, it reminds us that we made it back while they did not. It's a heavy reminder, one that intensifies the pain. This weekend is not about service — it's about sacrifice. To the estimated 22 veterans we lose to suicide daily — we remember you. Not every battle ends on the battlefield. Our hearts are with your families. The fight to support change and support service members must continue. Veterans represent every race, religion, ethnicity, and background. They spoke many languages and had families from every corner of the world. They loved in many ways. Make sure your idea of patriotism is not narrow minded. Honor all of them. To the family of SrA Fortson, we honor his service, his legacy, and his sacrifice. He was a hero. While justice may be absent, we continue to demand accountability. Christina Forrest, Navarre Why is DeSantis fighting so hard to deny climate change Floridians, it's time to get serious about combating climate change. Why is it taboo to include those words in any government legislative materials? Gov. DeSantis doesn't believe that our weather is changing in dramatic ways. He like Donald Trump dismisses the evidence that these wild weather patterns have anything to do with manmade emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. Extensive scientific studies have shown that these gases emitted into our atmosphere are heating the planet beyond normal cycles producing havoc (e.g. historic numbers of devastating storms, fires, tornadoes and droughts). DeSantis supports Donald Trump's willingness to 'drill baby drill' producing more polluting fossil fuels. DeSantis offered marginal effort to reduce damage to our environment by banning release of helium filled balloons over our waterways (known to harm/kill turtles/other sea life). Yet he has prevented cities and counties from banning the distribution of more damaging plastic bags. Encouraging the use of multiple cotton or plastic bags is a meaningful step to reducing production of petrochemicals. Estimates by reliable sources show that we Americans use approximately 100 billion single use plastic bags each year. By eliminating those bags, we could avoid production of three million barrels of oil. Wayne Seden, Gulf Breeze Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Pensacola News Journal using the link at the bottom of the page under Stay Connected.