on April 20, 2020

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Minnesotans Don’t Want California Car Mandates, Even If the Natural Resources Defense Council Does

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Transportation

On April 16, 2020 the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) wrote an article entitled "Minnesotans Want Clean Cars: The Oil Industry, Not So Much." The article, which mentions Center of the American Experiment by name, was meant to be a defense of Governor Walz's attempt to force Minnesotans to obey California car mandates for low emissions vehicles and zero emissions vehicles. However, the NRDC article made several easily-refutable claims that merit correcting, and these claims will be discussed below. In reality, American Experiment's polling has found that California's car regulations are deeply unpopular in Minnesota because the vast majority of Minnesotans...

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on April 20, 2020

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Confirmed: The Met Council’s dangerous “transit-oriented development” crusade

Written by Katherine Kersten

in Coronavirus, Governance, Metropolitan Council, Transportation

The Metropolitan Council is on a crusade to “densify” the Twin Cities, and that means reorganizing our metro area around public transit. The Council’s guiding principle is “transit-oriented development." But the coronavirus pandemic should be a wake-up call that “transit-oriented development” poses risks we previously hadn’t dreamed of....

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on April 16, 2020

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Metro Transit to Limit Bus Ridership During COVID-19 Outbreak

Written by Isaac Orr

in Coronavirus, Transportation

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Metro Transit will limit the number of riders who can board buses during the COVID-19 outbreak. The new policy is an admission, if not an overt one, that it is difficult to adhere to social distancing guidelines when buses are full. The article reads: Metro Transit announced new steps on Wednesday to promote social distancing on its buses, including a suggestion that passengers wear a mask or face covering while aboard. In addition, Metro Transit said only 10 passengers will be permitted on 40-foot buses, and 15 on 60-foot buses. If a bus is full, its overhead display...

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on April 08, 2020

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Walz Administration Plans to Push Ahead with Controversial California Car Mandates After Coronavirus Situation has Settled

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Transportation

On April 3, 2020, the Walz Administration announced that it still plans on pushing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to adopt California's controversial car mandates for low emission vehicles (LEV) and zero emission vehicles (ZEV) in Minnesota before the end of 2020, but that the original timeline would be pushed back as a result of the Coronavirus. While American Experiment has been the leading critic of the Walz Administration's attempt to adopt California's car standards because it will violate the private property rights of auto dealers, increase costs for consumers by $2,000 to $2,500 per vehicle, force auto dealers to...

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on March 07, 2020

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Why Gas Engines Are Far From Dead- Biggest EV Problems

Written by Isaac Orr

in Transportation

Proponents of Governor Walz's California Car mandates have argued that electric vehicles are the wave of the future, and that mandates for electric cars are needed to supply the large pent up demand for the cars. These talking points are not supported by the data, yet they persist. The video below does a great job explaining some of the biggest challenges electric vehicles face, and why car companies and consumers continue to prefer their gas-powered cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hatav_Rdnno...

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on March 05, 2020

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Efforts to Prevent The Walz Administration’s California Car Mandates Advance in the Senate

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Governance, Minnesota Economy, Transportation

Today was a step forward for the efforts of conservative lawmakers to prevent the Walz administration from imposing unpopular California car mandates on Minnesotans. Senate File 3496 passed out of the Minnesota Senate's State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee. You can watch the hearing on the bill at the link below. https://www.facebook.com/mnsrc/videos/2275278436108528/?comment_id=2275304272772611&notif_id=1583437629234897&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic I've previously testified in front of the Senate on this bill, explaining why it would be beneficial for Minnesota consumers. I also detailed that while the costs would be significant, the environmental benefits would be immeasurably small. It is encouraging to see that the Walz administration's attempt to...

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on March 03, 2020

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Clear Energy Alliance: The EV Dream

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Transportation

Governor Walz wants to adopt California's car mandates requiring that car manufacturers deliver electric vehicles for sale in Minnesota, but this video from the Clear Energy Alliance pours cold water on the frequently-used talking points used to promote these vehicles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaesOIY3I4U&feature=youtu.be...

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on February 26, 2020

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Tune in at 1pm As Isaac Orr Testifies (Again) on Governor Walz’s California Car Mandates

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Transportation

The Minnesota Senate has introduced a bill that would expressly prohibit the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) from adopting California's controversial car mandates and they have asked me to testify on the bill. In short, the bill scales back the authority of the MPCA to set maximum emissions standards for motor vehicles in Minnesota, effectively removing any ability for the MPCA to force Minnesotans to obey the dictates of unelected bureaucrats in California. Tune in to my testimony by clicking here. ...

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on February 24, 2020

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Why Is Governor Walz Trying to Mandate Cars That Nobody Wants?

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy, Transportation

Last week, I testified before a joint hearing of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee about the Walz administration's desire to force Minnesotans to comply with California's car mandates for low emission vehicles (LEVs) and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). During their testimonies, advocates of these new mandates claimed they are needed because there is a huge demand for some models of electric vehicles (EVs) that are not currently offered Minnesota, and that they would be offered here if the mandates went into effect. However, survey data from CleanTechnica.com, which is a website dedicated to promoting renewables and electric vehicles, shows...

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on February 19, 2020

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Isaac Orr Testifies on Walz’s California Car Mandates Before the Minnesota Senate

Written by Isaac Orr

in Transportation

Today at 10:30, Center of the American Experiment's Isaac Orr testified at a Joint Meeting of the Minnesota Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee for a discussion of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's proposed rule to adopt California car emissions standards. Watch below. Isaac's comments begin at timestamp 2:07:10. ...

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