‘Clean Car’ bill drives ahead

The bill that would adopt California’s ‘Clean Car’ vehicle emission standards for Minnesota narrowly passed the House Finance Committee April 29 after it was amended to address concerns about its potential impact on the ethanol industry.

HF863, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), would tighten restrictions on the amount of greenhouse gasses and smog-forming pollutants that can be emitted from new vehicles model 2012 and later. Approved by the committee on a 20-18 roll-call vote, it now goes to the House Ways and Means Committee.

An amendment successfully offered by Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) would delay the bill’s effective date by one year and require a study on the potential negative impacts of the legislation on auto dealers and ethanol producers. Juhnke said it would give lawmakers time to examine the legislation more closely in the next legislative session.

“We want to make darn certain that anything we do doesn’t affect that industry or these products,” he said, adding that it would also give legislators a chance to see how the next federal administration will deal with clean air standards.

Doug Peterson, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, testified that Juhnke’s amendment represented compromise language worked out between Hortman and ethanol supporters; however, some committee members said it was too much of a compromise.

“I think the studies have been done,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL-St. Paul), who voiced concern that the amendment would weaken the Legislature’s commitment to adopting the standards.

Other committee members said the study should be completed first — before the standards are adopted.

“I’ve never seen an instance where we adopt legislation and then do a study on it,” said Rep. Paul Kohls (R-Victoria).

A second amendment, offered successfully by Hortman, would require the Pollution Control Agency to monitor statistics on the use and availability of E85 in the state and submit annual reports to the Legislature, governor, and Agriculture and Commerce departments.

A companion, SF481, sponsored by Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville), awaits action by the Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee.