In nearly party-line votes, the House and Senate passed legislation overturning the Biden administration’s stricter regulations on heavy-duty truck emissions, the first part of Biden’s freight decarbonization strategy (expected to be vetoed). Republicans criticized the Clean Truck Plan as overly burdensome, while Democrats championed stricter emissions rules to combat climate change. The review act (simple majority in both chambers) allowed Congress to overturn executive branch action, with the Senate voting 50-49 and House 221-203. Biden will veto; Congress is unlikely to have enough votes to override.
The EPA’s Clean Truck Plan
The EPA’s Clean Truck Plan (finalized in January, taking effect in March) aims to reduce air pollution by increasing emission reductions over time, including ozone and particulate matter. It would reduce NOx emissions by 40% by 2040, and most large trucks running on low- or zero-emission powertrains by 2045, cutting NOx by nearly 50%. Extended warranties for commercial vehicles increased from 100,000 to 450,000 miles, and functional life from 435,000 to 650,000 miles. This is part of EPA’s 3-step Clean Truck Plans, followed by proposed Phase 3 GHG standards for 2027 trucks and multipollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles (47% of national Class 8 trucks are pre-2010).
Excise Tax Overshadows Lower-Emission Fleet Costs
According to ATA, modern diesel equipment produces 99% less emissions than vehicles from 1988. Boyle told Congress that the 100-year-old Federal Excise Tax (FET) is a “huge impediment” to buying cleaner trucks for smaller fleets and independent drivers. Since 1917, FET has quadrupled from 3% to 12%, and the price differential between battery-electric Class 8 trucks and diesel counterparts is around $300,000, which government incentives barely cover with the FET. Past attempts to repeal the tax have been unsuccessful, but ATA, American Truck Dealers, and Zero Emission Transportation Association have recently urged Congress to repeal FET in the interest of decarbonization and safety.
Sources: https://www.fleetowner.com/emissions-efficiency/article/21266587/congress-overturns-clean-truck-plan-but-biden-readies-veto
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