by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
A House committee on Thursday (Feb. 14) approved a local lawmaker's legislation that would have Minnesota adopting California's clean car standards - standards more stringent than the federal government's.
Appearing before the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, argued adoption of the California standards would bring much greater benefits in terms of reducing global warming gases.
According to Clean Energy Minnesota, a consortium of environmental groups, the California standards would reduce these gases twice as much as federal standards by the year 2016 - 17 million metric tons versus 8 million metric tons.
Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, saw her air quality legislation pass a House environment committee on Thursday (Feb. 14). The bill would have the state adopt the California auto emission standards, except those relating to Zero Emission Vehicles. Auto industry officials oppose the measure.
"Adopting the standards is really a no-brainer to most Minnesotans," said Hortman.
Auto officials in opposition
But auto industry officials oppose the adoption.
Representatives from the Alliance of Automotive Manufactures and General Motors argued that meeting the California standards would overtax their industry.
Instead, they heralded recent federal legislation that calls for a 40 percent increase in corporate average fuel economy by 2020, according to the manufactures.
Beyond this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently denied a waiver that California had sought for its clean car standards.
Minnesota has joined other states in a lawsuit to overturn the EPA ruling.
Scott Lambert, of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association, argued that adoption of the California standards would impact the availability of vehicles to Minnesota consumers. "For us it is a simple matter of inventory," said Lambert.
Lambert styled the California standards are "dramatic overreach."
The Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association recently opened a Web site, www.donttakemytruck.com,
California is a nice way to visit, reads the site.
"But, there is a way to require auto manufacturers to build cleaner vehicles without going to the extremes required by California activists.," it opined.
Some members of the committee were uncomfortable with Hortman's legislation.
Standards for snowmobiles?
Representatives Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, and David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, voiced concerns that the California standards could be applied to snowmobiles or ATVs, a scenario Hortman insisted would not happen.
Beyond this, Hackbarth questioned the wisdom of adopting the standards of the California Air Resources Board, arguing Minnesota lawmakers would be ceding power.
Rep. Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, voiced concerns that by adopting the standards, Minnesota would become an island - people from Hastings would cross the river to Wisconsin to purchase vehicles not available in Minnesota.
But Committee Chairman Kent Eken, DFL-Twin Valley, questioned the degree the California standards would actually upset auto manufacturers.
Rep. Dennis Ozement, R-Rosemount, argued the legislation moved too fast and voted against the bill.
During World War II the entire industry was successfully retooled for the war effort, he argued. Hortman agreed. "I don't believe our automotive manufacturers will have any trouble meeting that standard," she said.
Bill won't create jobs
"I believe the bill will create jobs," said Hortman.
Hortman's bill calls for the sate to adopt the California standards by this September.
On voice vote, it passed the committee 10-7 and referred to another House committee.
Local lawmakers on the committee voting in favor: Gardner, and Hansen.
Voting against: Hackbarth, McNamara, Ozment and Tingelstad.
The Clean Energy Minnesota Web site is:
www.cleanenergyminnesota.org
