Advocates Call for a Veto of Harmful Transportation Bills 

A coalition of climate and environmental justice advocates in California is urging Governor Newsom to veto four bills that would require amendments to the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) and Commercial Harbor Craft (CHC) Regulations. They argue that these bills could weaken the regulations and increase the risk of harmful pollution from trucks and ships in communities.

Here are the details of the bills:

• AB 637 (Jackson): This bill would postpone the approval needed to enforce California’s ACF rule, which aims to gradually introduce medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles to achieve 100% new sales by 2036. Advocates note that complying with the amendments required by AB 637 would cost at least $1.838 million annually in the first two fiscal years after the bill’s enactment, $695,000 in the following year, and $2.3 million annually from the third year onward.

• AB 3179 (Carillo): This bill would create exemptions for emergency telecommunications vehicles from complying with zero-emission standards. The amendments proposed by AB 3179 would cost at least an additional $1.4 million in 2024-25, $465,000 in 2025-26, and $232,000 annually thereafter.

• AB 1122 (Bains): This bill would mandate the inclusion of an override or bypass feature on pollution filters and delay regulatory requirements for certain harbor craft to install new engines.

• AB 1296 (Grayson): This bill would delay compliance requirements for pilot station boats under the CHC rule, putting California’s efforts to reduce diesel emissions from harbor craft at risk. The proposed amendments to the CHC rule in current bills are estimated to result in additional ongoing costs of at least $2.4 million annually.

In 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-79-20, directing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as strategies to achieve 100% zero-emissions from off-road vehicles and equipment operations in the state by 2035.

The ACF regulation aims to gradually introduce medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles to achieve 100% new truck sales by 2036. Advocates stress that this rule is crucial for CARB’s overall strategy to electrify the transportation sector and address poor air quality and public health issues, as heavy-duty trucks are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and harmful pollutants.

The CHC rule sets the first zero-emission mandate for short-run ferries in the nation and requires cleaner engines for other regulated vessels, positioning California as a leader in reducing emissions from marine vessels. Given that harbor crafts significantly contribute to air pollution at seaports and surrounding communities, the CHC regulation plays a vital role in achieving emissions reduction goals and improving public health.

Advocates argue that any bills requiring amendments to these regulations could force CARB to rescind current waiver requests, leading to delays in implementing the ACF or CHC regulations. They emphasize that collaborating with CARB to find better solutions and addressing concerns within the flexibilities of the current regulations, rather than overturning the regulations, is essential for successful implementation and reaping their intended benefits.