At Public Hearing, EDF Calls on EPA to Finalize Protective Climate Pollution Standards for Freight Trucks and Buses

(Washington, D.C. - May 3, 2023) EDF's Eric Wriston today joined more than 200 other people to testify at a multi-day public hearing about EPA's proposal to reduce climate pollution from heavy-duty vehicles like freight trucks, delivery vans, and buses. 

“We urge the agency to finalize protective final standards that are consistent with and build from the agency’s proposals,” Wriston testified. “These standards must help to ensure we are on a path to zero tailpipe emissions from new vehicles by 2035.”

Heavy-duty vehicles make up less than 10% of the traffic on America’s roads but are responsible for more than half the health-harming pollution and a quarter of the climate pollution from the U.S. transportation sector. Two weeks ago, EPA proposed limiting that tailpipe pollution from both passenger vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles. The proposals would create jobs, save people money, and provide cleaner air and a safer climate for all.

EPA is holding hearings on its heavy-duty proposal first. In his testimony, Wriston called on the agency to further strengthen its proposed standards.

“EPA’s proposal is firmly supported by the investments and commitments made by manufacturers and fleets as well as state leadership and these features support even more protective standards that help to ensure levels of [zero-emission vehicles] consistent with [California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Rule] nationwide,” he testified. Wriston also identified “especially vital opportunities for EPA to strengthen standards for key segments, including tractor trailers and school buses.”

Wriston noted that investments in the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are making new heavy-duty vehicles more affordable and more easily available. A new report by Environmental Defense Fund and WSP USA found more than $120 billion in investments in electric vehicle manufacturing and 143,000 new U.S. jobs have been announced in the last eight years – with more than 40 percent of those announcements happening in the last six months, since passage of the IRA. Other analyses show the tax credits in the IRA are dramatically accelerating purchase price parity for medium and heavy-duty zero-emitting vehicles. A study from ERM found that, with IRA tax credits, electric day cabs will reach purchase price parity with diesel vehicles in 2027 and sleeper cabs in 2031.

Wriston also testified that “protective final standards are critical to reducing that pollution and saving lives, especially in communities of color and low-income communities, which are exposed to a disproportionate amount of vehicle pollution.”

In addition to the hearing, EPA is accepting written comments on the proposed standards for heavy-duty vehicles until June 16.

You can read Wriston’s full testimony here.