(DCWatchdog.com) – New Mexico’s Democratic Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has signed an executive order requiring all state government agencies to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035.
This announcement was made during a transportation symposium in New Mexico.
Additionally, the governor plans to increase EV tax credits to make them more affordable for consumers, which is in line with her ongoing efforts to promote electric vehicles across the state.
Earlier in the year, the governor implemented Clean Car rules. These rules require car manufacturers to increase the percentage of zero-emission cars and light trucks they sell in New Mexico each year, starting in 2026. By 2031, 82% of the cars sold should be zero-emission.
She commented on this earlier rule, saying, “These rules will speed up much-needed investment in New Mexico’s electric vehicle and clean hydrogen fueling infrastructure, create new job opportunities and, most importantly, result in cleaner and healthier air for all New Mexicans to breathe.”
Lujan Grisham stated, “The fact of the matter is that consumers and dealers want better access to electric vehicles, and the actions we’ve taken through Clean Car rules and now tax credits are leveling the playing field.” She further emphasized the state’s commitment by saying, “I also took action today to make sure the state is ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to widely adopting low- and zero-emission vehicles by requiring the state fleet to be zero-emission by 2035.” She confirmed, “the state fleet will be 100% electric” by 2035.
According to the order, all state departments are directed to prioritize the purchase of electric vehicles. However, there are certain exceptions, such as vehicles used by law enforcement, fire departments, and other heavy-duty applications.
The push for EVs in New Mexico is part of a larger national trend. The federal government has set strict emissions and fuel economy standards that will likely make traditional gasoline vehicles more expensive in the future. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency granted California the ability to set its own emission standards, leading to the state’s 2035 EV mandate. Other states have followed suit. However, there has been resistance. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn the waiver given to California.
House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., supported the vote, saying, “This legislation is about ensuring Americans can continue choosing the vehicles that best suit their lives. It’s about making sure people have the option of driving practical, functional and affordable cars.” She added, “The answer is not through restrictive government mandates,” referencing the efforts of President Biden’s EPA and California.
