Minnesota DOT Report Calls for Low-Emissions Vehicle Standard

A new Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) report outlines strategies to decrease the state’s transportation emissions. The transportation sector is the largest contributor to fossil fuel emissions in the state of Minnesota.

The report, called "Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation in Minnesota" recommends a greater adoption of biofuels and actions to decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT). "The report also says Gov. Tim Walz should encourage the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to develop a rulemaking for the state to adopt low-emission vehicle standards," Eleanor Lamb reports for Transport Topics.

The report also calls for a collaborating with neighboring states on Electric Vehicle Corridors. These routes would provide charging facilities for electric vehicles traveling through the Midwest, and remove the persistent barrier making inter-city travel in electric vehicles difficult.

This report is part of ongoing efforts by the state to curb its emissions. "Minnesota passed the Next Generation Energy Act (NGEA) in 2007, which laid out goals for the state to reduce GHG emissions," Lamb writes. While Minnesota has reduced emissions, it missed its 2015 goal and if it does not enact new policies is unlikely to reach its 2025 goal either.