The Clean Freight Coalition, of which NATSO is a member, on July 19 applauded 30 lawmakers who signed a bipartisan letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the agency to revise its proposed rule for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles.
In the letter, the lawmakers urged EPA to take more time to consider the concerns of industry as it advances a rule of this magnitude. EPA spent five years finalizing its Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards but has an open comment period of just 50 days for Phase 3.
Specifically, the lawmakers cited the $400,000 cost of an electric truck compared with $180,000 for a commercial truck powered by liquid fuel as well as the need for sufficient charging infrastructure.
In a July 19 statement to media, CFC Executive Director Jim Mullen said, "The CFC would like to thank the members of Congress who signed and submitted this letter to EPA Administrator Regan. These members see the significant flaws in the GHG proposed rule and unresolved issues, which must be addressed to protect the nation’s supply chain and the millions of individuals working in the trucking industry.
"The CFC fully supports a sustainable and affordable transition to zero-emission trucks. That is why we are advocating for repeal of the Federal Excise Tax, sufficient funding for charging and fueling infrastructure, and policies that promote and incentivize readily available low-carbon fuel options—such as biodiesel and renewable diesel, which provide immediate emission reductions while longer-term solutions are realized.
"What CFC cannot support are regulations that set unachievable standards and force the trucking industry to transition to equipment that has not been fully tested, presents range and weight problems, and is unaffordable. At the end of the day, it is the consumer that bears the financial burden of these regulations."
NATSO in June submitted comments on the Phase 3 proposed rule urging lawmakers to adopt a technology-neutral approach to reducing carbon emissions that doesn’t cherry pick technologies. Rather than adopting a single approach to emissions reductions, NATSO has urged EPA to harness the immediate decarbonization benefits of existing lower carbon options, including renewable diesel and biodiesel.
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