Dear EIB members: 

Air pollution from cars and trucks is the second-largest source of climate pollution in New Mexico. The pollutant harm disproportionately impacts lower-income community residents, who often live near heavily-trafficked transportation corridors, and people of all ages with respiratory conditions (which might have been caused by vehicle pollution in the first place).

Advanced Clean Car II, Advanced Clean Trucks and Omnibus Low Nitrous Oxide (NOx) rules are the swiftest way to reduce the transportation sector's pollution and climate emissions. You can help build on last year's Advanced Clean Cars I rule by supporting these new rules, which can provide long-term protection for New Mexicans from pollution and help combat climate change.

Please don't be distracted by the misinformation and, frankly, at times ridiculous claims made by people and organizations opposing these common sense and much-needed rules. Contrary to what some would have you believe, electric cars and trucks are rapidly reaching prices equal to their internal combustion counterparts. At home and on the road, electric vehicle (EV) chargers are rapidly being deployed by public and private organizations. Well over 80% of New Mexicans can carry out their daily commercial or personal travel requirements on a single charge, and the build out of rapid chargers will allow those with a need to travel greater distances to easily accomplish that as well. There are a growing number of federal, state and auto dealer rebates and tax credits to install both public and at-home chargers, and there are substantial reductions in kWh rates for charging an EV. 

However, the issue that the EIB has to address is not if New Mexicans will embrace the transition to an all electric vehicle future, but when. EVs will eventually replace gasoline vehicles. Estimates from many transportation experts make it clear that well over 50% of new vehicles sold in the US will be electric by the early 2030s. Major vehicle manufacturers have also committed to rapidly ramping up production of EVs. The question, then, is whether New Mexico will lead or lag.

Adopting ACC II and ACT will mean manufacturers deliver more EVs to New Mexico in the early years of the transition away from gasoline vehicles, which means New Mexicans will reap the public health and economic benefits sooner than their neighbors. More EV products on the market will increase competition, lower prices, and further drive deployment of EV chargers, which will, in turn, increase purchase of EVs. It's a virtuous circle that the EIB can help drive.

The NOx rules will address another important issue: contaminants from diesel engines produce dangerous particulate matter exhaust. New Mexico already has serious air quality problems in high-traffic zones, like the Santa Teresa border crossing and at major truck stops along the I-40 and I-25 corridors. Again, the EIB can help New Mexico lead, not lag, in dealing with this issue, which will only grow as New Mexico's role in the international economy grows.

Thank you for standing with us to protect the air we breathe, and our climate future.