Pres. Joe Biden cleared the way for California to become the only state to mandate Class 8 electric trucks and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) appears furious.
Under the Biden Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a California rule that requires half of all trucks sold to be of the zero-emissions variety by 2035. Federal approval of the so-called “advanced clean trucks rule” was necessary because it far exceeds those created by the EPA.
“This isn’t the United States of California, and in order to mollify a never satisfied fringe environmental lobby by allowing the state to proceed with these technologically infeasible rules on unworkable and unrealistic timelines, the EPA is sowing the ground for a future supply chain crisis,” ATA president and CEO Chris Spear reportedly said. “As we learned since the pandemic, our supply chain is fragile, and even small disruptions can cause huge problems nationally and globally, and by allowing this incredibly disruptive, ill-conceived regime to move forward, EPA is creating a terrible mess for the hard-working men and women of our industry and the country to clean up.”
The powers that be in the Golden State firmly disagree with the ATA, and truckers who will be financially impacted going forward. In fact, Gov. Gavin Newsom lauded the White House and EPA for giving the thumbs up to the measure. He also went on the record vilifying trucks and buses as polluters.
“Now, thanks to the Biden administration, we’re getting more zero-emission heavy-duty trucks on the roads, expanding our world-leading efforts to cut air pollution and protect public health,” Gov. Newsom reportedly said. “We’re leading the charge to get dirty trucks and buses — the most polluting vehicles — off our streets, and other states and countries are lining up to follow our lead around the world.”
Spear noted the trucking industry has managed to reduce emissions by upwards of 98 percent during the last 35 years. The freight transportation sector has been moving in an environmentally sustainable direction. Many fear this excessive government mandate will push owner-operators to absorb the cost of expensive battery electric rigs or stop doing business in California. The state already enacted the controversial AB5 law banning truckers from being self-employed.
“They will certainly feel the pain when these fanciful projections lead to catastrophic disruptions well beyond California’s borders,” Spear reportedly said.
Sources:
https://www.ccjdigital.com/regulations/article/15382440/california-mandates-electric-trucks
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