Minnesota will follow the state of California and adopt stricter fuel consumption standards for cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, even as the Trump administration plans to invalidate these standards.

Minnesota would become the 15th state to adopt California's fuel economy laws, which require automakers to meet their mileage-per-gallon targets for passenger vehicles until 2025.

The decision, announced Wednesday afternoon by Governor Tim Walz, comes as the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Transportation prepare to weaken federal standards set under the administration. Obama and threaten to revoke an exemption that Congress has long granted to California to set its criteria. own more severe mileage standards.

Walz said it would take about 18 months in Minnesota to adopt the new rules, following public hearings.

"It makes sense," he said in an interview. "This saves money on gas, increasing options and choices, reducing Minnesota's carbon emissions and improving health."

In addition to improving fuel economy, Walz said he expects the standards to reduce the state's total greenhouse gas emissions by 4.5. % to 5% within five years. These reductions would help Minnesota move closer to long-standing carbon emissions targets set by a two-party bill in 2007.

It is however unclear whether Minnesota will eventually be allowed to adopt the standards as the Trump administration and California will engage in a legal battle against the right of states to define their own regulations. California – one of the world's largest automotive markets – has been allowed to set its own emissions standards since the adoption of the Clean Air Act by Congress in 1970. Other States have been given the opportunity to adopt California rules or those defined by federal regulators. until last week, when Trump announced that his administration would revoke the power of California to establish its own standards.

California and 23 other states, including Minnesota, have sued the administration to maintain this authority.

"The anticipation is that we are going to win this case, so we have to be ready once that happens," Walz said.

The decision sparked criticism from Republican state leaders even as Walz announced it to reporters.

"The governor does not unilaterally decide how Minnesotians live their lives," said House Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, in a statement. "These goals are unrealistic and must be adopted or achieved by all Minnesota residents.

But Consumer Reports, the independent publication on product testing, praised Walz's decision as a "breath of fresh air."

"This decision is a victory for all families in Minnesota and a great example of leadership for other states that have not yet adopted low-emission vehicle standards," said Shannon Baker-Branstetter, head of Consumer Reports Automotive and Energy Policy.

Save money or cost?

The Trump administration has not proposed its own definitive fuel economy rules to replace those set by President Barack Obama, but has indicated that it could freeze these standards to 2021 levels. Should this happen, a car manufacturer's fleet of new vehicles is expected to average 30 mpg in actual driving conditions by 2021. The Obama era rules would have progressively raised this figure to 36 / gal in 2025.

The Trump administration says the freeze on fuel economy standards will reduce the average price of new car stickers by about $ 2,700. But a study released by Consumer Reports in August found that these savings would be canceled by the average driver who would spend $ 3,000 more on fuel over the life of the vehicle if standards were frozen at 2021.

Walz said the freeze proposed by the Trump administration would be an unprecedented setback after decades of steady progress on cleaner and more efficient cars.

"It makes absolutely no sense to the consumer," he said. "We are all happy when we get better gas mileage. It will simply bring us back.

If California standards were adopted in Minnesota, average emissions from new cars in a fleet would be reduced by 5% per year until 2025. Emissions from trucks and SUVs would be reduced by 3.5% per year over the next two years. 5% per year from 2021 to 2025.

Manufacturers would also be required to offer consumers an increasing number of electric or hybrid vehicles emitting ultra-low or zero emissions every year.

The changes will not affect cars on the road and will not hinder the sale of trucks and SUVs, Walz said.

"If you want to drive your pickup, go ahead and drive your pickup," Walz said. "This has no impact on the choices that Minnesota can make, aside from expanding opportunities and ensuring that the entire fleet is considering reducing carbon emissions."