BOSTON (AP) – Truck fleet company officials urge governors across the country to adopt a rule aimed at accelerating the adoption of zero-emission trucks and reducing a potent source of greenhouse gases emitted by large commercial vehicles. .
In a letter published Friday, representatives from companies including IKEA, Nestlé, Siemens, Etsy, eBay, Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever joined environmental activists and investors in calling for the wide adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule. Transportation is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions in the US.with trucks being one of the main culprits, activists said.
The rule requires medium and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers to increase sales of zero-emission models over time in states where the policy is implemented. As production increases, the cost to manufacturers and buyers should decline, advocates said.
Supporters of the rule say companies are increasingly demanding clean trucks and vans to help meet climate and pollution targets and save on fuel and maintenance costs. Passing the rule by state governments could help give truck manufacturers an additional push, the sponsors said.
“The ACT standard will help reduce the costs of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles by requiring manufacturers to increase the availability of the model to meet the needs of fleet operators and drive investment in transportation research and development. clean, ”the companies and advocacy groups said in the letter.
“This will enable the cost-effective electrification of commercial vehicles at the pace and scale necessary to meet climate and air quality goals,” they added.
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The shift to zero-emission trucks will also help reduce pollution in low-income neighborhoods, many of which are border highways, major highways and shipping hubs, and where residents often have health problems like asthma, advocates said. .
Rule has already been adopted in California and is being considered in several other states, including Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and Colorado.
“Medium and heavy duty vehicles are an essential part of the logistics networks that millions of Etsy sellers rely on to deliver items to their buyers around the world, but these vehicles contribute disproportionately to air pollution and pollution. global warming emissions, “Chelsey Evans, Etsy’s senior manager of sustainability, said in a statement. “Widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles, including through the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, is key to fighting climate change.”
The letter was organized by the nonprofit group Ceres.
States have begun to recognize automobile and truck-related pollution and its effect on the climate.
In a letter published Friday, representatives from companies including IKEA, Nestlé, Siemens, Etsy, eBay, Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever joined environmental activists and investors in calling for the broad adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. #U.S
The governors of three New England states and the mayor of Washington signed last year a regional pact aimed at drastically reducing transport pollution, an agreement they hope other states will eventually join.
The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program is designed to reduce motor vehicle emissions by at least 26% by 2032 by requiring large suppliers of gasoline and diesel fuel to purchase “concessions” for pollution caused by use of the fuels they sell in the region. Opponents say that could drive up gas prices.
In New England, transportation is responsible for more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Reference-www.nationalobserver.com