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Racing against the clock, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board approved a controversial environmental justice regulation to tighten the management of air pollution permits Monday.

On Monday, the Albuquerque City Council doubled down on its wishes to abolish a powerful air quality regulatory board, overriding a mayoral veto, while at the same time, stripping its powers away until February.

For three days, stakeholders with the automotive industry and the state have been making their case to the state Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo Air Quality Control Board as to why New Mexico is or isn’t ready for a serious transition to EVs.

Albuquerque’s city council has approved bills that would prevent the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board from hearing a rule on environmental health and equity impacts — and completely replace its current members.

Next month, a joint hearing between the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board will be held to consider rules meant to speed up the transition from fossil fuels to electric vehicles.

Bills that would completely replace the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board and potentially undermine its regulation authority are set to be heard by Albuquerque’s City Council on Wednesday, November 8th.