ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota officials will soon will kick off another public comment period for proposed auto emission standards. The state is hopeful legal decisions and strong opposition won't kill the plan.

Last fall, Gov. Tim Walz announced his Clean Cars initiative, which would require the auto industry to adhere to strict emissions standards already adopted by states such as California. An initial public comment period wrapped up in December, and a second phase could begin next month.

Craig McDonnell, assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said whether you like the plan or not, the public has a voice in the process.

"We'll have that public comment period. We'll have a hearing where people can go in front of the administrative law judge and provide comment as well," McDonnell said. "And in addition to that formal comment period, we are still determining how we can best engage the public and let them know the basics of this rule."

One standard would require reducing tailpipe pollution of greenhouse gases. The other would require dealers to offer more electric vehicles.

The Trump administration has challenged the authority of states to adopt the California-style rules. That issue is currently tied up in the courts. And the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association has argued the plan would drive up costs, which eventually would be passed along to customers.

McDonnell said they're receptive to the concerns raised by the auto industry, and want to find common ground with those who have raised them. As for the legal challenge, he said they're moving ahead so that if they're successful, they won't have to play catch-up.

"We want to be ready for when that waiver is restored, that we can move forward with our Clean Cars Minnesota proposal as soon as possible," he said.

The state hopes to wrap up the rule-making process later this year and have the changes in place by December. The Walz administration says it does not need approval from the state Legislature.


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The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating underreported methane emissions from landfills nationwide, and a recent report names Michigan as a major offender.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and a key focus in combating climate change. Experts warn methane emissions are spiraling out of control as they leak from landfills.

The advocacy group Industrious Labs reports Michigan landfills emit enough methane to equal 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, resulting in more waste per capita than any other state.

Kathrine Blauvelt, circular economy campaign director for Industrious Labs, highlighted the issue.

"Your landfills take in a lot of waste from out of state," Blauvelt pointed out. "You also have one of the lowest recycling rates in the nation. So, that brings Michigan to the place of being sixth in the whole country in the highest landfill methane emissions."

Blauvelt noted the good news is, the EPA and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hold the pen to introduce tougher requirements for methane emissions standards, particularly with the clean energy legislation signed into law last year in Michigan.

Blauvelt said the EPA looked at dozens of inspection reports, which revealed a large amount of unchecked methane emissions at landfills in Michigan. She warned the situation is likely to be even worse than the numbers currently indicate, due to the emergence of what she calls "methane super-emitter events."

"That's your really, really large -- you can see it from space, you can see it from air -- emissions of methane," Blauvelt explained. "Those are now being detected across the globe by technology."

Blauvelt also mentioned the EPA only requires landfills to conduct methane leak inspections four times a year, using what she described as inadequate methods.

"They have a human being do it, walking across, you can imagine, many, many miles," Blauvelt observed. "It could hot, right? That can be dangerous for the person to walk a landfill. So, it's not surprising that landfills are missing these big methane leaks."

She argued employing drones, satellites and other technology would help to safely and more accurately locate methane leaks.


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A New Mexico advocacy group is reminding lawmakers the state must revise its approach to extreme heat, air pollution and the oil and gas industry if families and communities are to survive the changing climate.

Despite major wildfires in recent years, the state has only three air-quality monitors, all placed in major cities.

Charles Goodmacher, founder of Do Good LLC, said at a recent hearing of the Water and Natural Resources Committee, the number could be increased by attaching them to the statewide network of weather stations.

"Then local communities could be much more aware of when they need to issue warnings to people to stay inside or to wear masks and other precautions," Goodmacher explained.

Las Cruces typically records the state's hottest summer temperatures, followed by Albuquerque. Multiple studies have shown hotter temperatures increase anger and aggression, which is thought to increase crime; another major topic facing lawmakers. The advocacy group wants a statewide public health and climate program established and a $10 million fund created to help towns and cities address climate needs.

Data show the Southwest is the fastest-warming area in the lower 48 states and Goodmacher suspects it could be contributing to New Mexico's increased crime in the past five years. He argued climate effects have been traced to negative impacts on the state budget.

"Loss of income to our rural and agricultural parts of the state. Farmers and ranchers are having to change their crops or change which breed of cattle," Goodmacher pointed out. "These kinds of things are happening already in New Mexico."

Efforts to reduce crime have been a major focus in New Mexico this month, with the governor holding a special legislative session. The governor's proposals were not approved, but lawmakers did OK funding to pay for those affected by the recent South Fork and Salt wildfires.

A hydrogen-powered ferry built in Washington state is operating in San Francisco Bay.

Clean energy advocates are hoping it spurs action closer to home. The Sea Change is the first ferry in the world to run entirely on zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells. Its exhaust is water, which is safe to drink.

Erika Thi Patterson, senior director of climate programs at Pacific Environment, was on the ship's inaugural trip July 19. She said it shows what is possible for other ferry fleets.

"We've heard from port and municipal leaders in other cities that are running ferry services, like New York and Seattle," Patterson noted. "They're interested in this technology and have said that they're looking for opportunities to deliver more hydrogen-fueled passenger ferries to their cities soon."

The ship was built by All American Marine in Bellingham. King County Metro aims to have a zero-emission transportation fleet by 2035.

Patterson argued decarbonizing maritime fleets is important in order to combat climate change as well as protect people's health.

"Reducing shipping emissions is not only an urgent priority for addressing our climate crisis," Patterson contended. "It's also critical to eliminating harmful pollution in port side communities, which tend to predominantly be working class communities of color."

Patterson added an interesting detail she learned on the Sea Change's maiden voyage is the ferry's only exhaust is water.

"It's so pure that you can actually drink it," Patterson observed. "There's a drinking fountain on board that allows passengers to drink the exhaust, which I did and it was very refreshing."