Climate change threatens the things Minnesotans love
Our land, our air, our water, our children’s future. Minnesota is leading in pushing for innovative solutions to the climate crisis, including implementing clean car standards — requiring car manufacturers to provide more clean car options in Minnesota. Clean car standards will protect our environment and our health, increase consumer choice and save Minnesotans money, and help grow our economy.
Minnesotans for Clean Cars is a coalition of Minnesota-based organizations that believe that adopting clean car standards in our state is a smart solution to reducing climate pollution, is consumer friendly, and will benefit Minnesotans’ bottom line.
Any car currently available to you will continue to be available if Clean Car Standards are adopted in Minnesota. These standards do not force anyone to give up their current vehicle or choose one that doesn’t work for their lifestyle. Minnesota consumers will simply have more options for purchasing electric vehicles and new models with increased efficiency. These standards would not implement a personal vehicle inspection program in Minnesota; instead, new models from auto manufacturers sold in our state would be required to improve efficiency each year.
Help secure a healthy future for everyone
Clean car standards will lower climate pollution. Transportation is now the biggest source of climate pollution in Minnesota, it’s also our greatest opportunity to lower them. Minnesota has set a goal for 20 percent of all passenger vehicles in the state to be electric by 2030.
Bold goals require bold action. Initial estimates indicate that clean car standards would reduce annual climate pollution by 2 million tons by 2030. This reduction will help clean our air and make us healthier. In August 2019, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health released the Life and Breath report that showed that air pollution contributed to roughly 2,000-4,000 deaths in Minnesota in 2013 as well as hundreds of increased hospital visits.
Minnesotans are missing out
Car buyers in clean car states have a lot more clean car models to choose from – including crossovers and SUVs – and Minnesota should have all those options available here. A recent study found that 6 in every 10 prospective car buyers in Minnesota has interest in electric cars, trucks and SUVs. The survey also found that 66 percent of prospective Minnesota car buyers want automakers to provide more types of electric vehicles. Adopting the clean car program would help ensure Minnesotans can find these kinds of electric vehicles in the coming years.
As a fuel source, electricity is less expensive, and the pricing is more stable than gasoline, and electric vehicles are also 3–4 times more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles. Maintenance and repair costs can be 60% lower for electric vehicles due to simpler mechanics. A recent study found that by adopting the Clean Cars Standard Minnesota drivers could save nearly $9 billion over 15 years.
Clean car standards are good for the economy
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia – representing over 35% of new vehicles sales in the nation – have adopted such standards. As a result, construction of public charging infrastructure and the automakers themselves have focused their investments in those states. Minnesota should be one of the places these companies are investing.
With clean cars, Minnesota can leverage its entrepreneurial identity and be an innovation leader in the rapid modernization of our transportation infrastructure. Minnesota should tap into a larger share of the nearly 300,000 workers in 48 states who are building the components, materials and technology needed to make vehicles more fuel efficient. A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that with the money Minnesota families save and pumped back into the economy we can expect nearly 13,000 new jobs.
Minnesota is poised to pass Clean Cars Minnesota, a standard that would reduce climate change-causing air pollution and increase customer choices.
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Our Coalition Partners
Clean Up the River Environment (CURE)
CURE’s mission is to protect and restore resilient rural landscapes by harnessing the power of citizens who care about them. We do this because we believe that robust human communities can only be sustained by healthy ecosystems, and robust natural environments can only be regained through vigorous stewardship.
Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy
Climate Generation was founded by polar explorer, Will Steger, based on his powerful eyewitness to climate change from over 50 years exploring the polar regions and his determination to engage people in the issue and solutions. We empower individuals in their communities to make long-term, lasting change by building climate literacy, understanding personal connections to climate change, and developing powerful advocates through a model of collaboration and partnership.
Conservation Minnesota
At Conservation Minnesota, our mission is protecting the Minnesota you love by solving our state’s most important conservation problems. To succeed, Conservation Minnesota is focused on building a diverse and passionate statewide network and understanding each person’s unique interests. Then we match our members’ passion with credible information and meaningful opportunities to have a positive impact for their family, community, and future.
Fresh Energy
Fresh Energy is speeding Minnesota’s transition to a clean energy economy, which will ensure that our region enjoys good health, a vibrant economy, and thriving communities today and for generations to come. From putting Minnesota on the pathway to being a national renewable energy leader to promoting clean transportation options for our growing economy, Fresh Energy has been an essential partner in helping the region develop efficient, cost-effective, and inclusive energy programming.
Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
We are Minnesota physicians, nurses and allied health care providers committed to bringing the voice of health care to the public debate on clean energy, fossil fuel related pollution and our changing climate. We believe that Climate Change will be one of the greatest public health challenges in human history.
ISAIAH
ISAIAH organizes people of faith and shared values powerfully and collectively towards racial, economic, and climate justice in Minnesota.
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) has been a leading legal and scientific voice for Minnesota’s environment since 1974. We work in the courts, regulatory agencies, and at the legislature to protect Minnesota’s environment and the health of its people. MCEA defends the Minnesota you love.
Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light works in partnership with faith communities to build transformative power and bring the lights of people’s unique gifts to addressing the climate crisis. We work to grow the climate movement in Minnesota by empowering individuals and communities across the state to take action that is authentic, effective, and energizing in their context.
MN350
MN350 unites Minnesotans as part of a global movement to end the pollution damaging our climate, speed the transition to clean energy, and create a just and healthy future for all.
Sierra Club North Star Chapter
The Sierra Club North Star Chapter is 80,000 Minnesotans empowered to protect our communities’ well-being through environmental protection. All are welcome to join us in this work and at any of our events.
TakeAction Minnesota
TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, multiracial, multi-generational, grassroots membership organization. We’re building a people-powered movement across our state for a government and economy that works for all of us.
