The Biden administration is set to approve waivers to California that will allow it to enforce tougher environmental rules than pre-existing federal requirements for heavy-duty trucks.
Sources speaking with The Washington Post state the Biden administration’s decision will allow California to cut tailpipe pollution and eventually phase out the sales of diesel trucks. As it stands, heavy-duty trucks account for almost a third of the state’s nitrogen oxide and more than a quarter of its fine particle pollution generated by diesel fuel.
New policies in California starting with the 2024 model year will require heavy-duty vehicles to cut emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. The Biden administration’s latest regulations would not be implemented until the 2027 model year. In addition, truck manufacturers will need to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission trucks, buses and vans, with an ultimate target of only selling all-electric of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks by 2045.
Officials within the state claim these changes could reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 307 million metric tons by 2050.
However, even if the Biden administration does issue California with the waivers that it needs, that won’t be the end of the story. The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association which represents the country’s largest truck makers is expected to sue to stop the policies from taking effect, stating that the rules will increase the costs of trucks, forcing buyers to opt for older and dirtier vehicles.
Read: Big Rigs And Buses With Pre-2010 Diesel Engines Are Now Banned From Californian Roads
The Washington Post reports that 40 members of the Moving Forward Network met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Michael Regan last week to demand tougher pollution limits on heavy trucks, in addition to those that load and unload goods at ports throughout the United States.
“We communicated to the EPA that we need significant rule changes and stronger enforcement of the existing policies. Their current rules are falling short,” Moving Forward Network board member Bruce Strouble said.
