New regulations aim to reduce truck pollution significantly
The Biden administration has announced regulation aimed at slashing pollution from heavy-duty trucks, marking a major step in the nation's climate change mitigation efforts.
Mike Lee reports for E&E News.
In short:
- The Biden administration's new rule targets heavy-duty truck emissions, aiming to cut 1 billion tons of CO2 by 2055.
- Unlike previous proposals, the regulation sets declining CO2 emission limits for trucks from 2027 to 2032, without mandating specific engine types.
- This rule also anticipates reducing millions of tons of pollutants that harm communities near highways and shipping areas.
Key quote:
"In finalizing these emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses, EPA is significantly cutting pollution from the hardest working vehicles on the road."
— Michael Regan, EPA administrator
Why this matters:
Regulations are designed to incentivize the adoption of cleaner fuels and alternative propulsion systems in the trucking industry. This includes promoting the use of low-sulfur diesel, biodiesel, natural gas, and electric-powered trucks. By encouraging the transition to cleaner fuels and technologies, policymakers hope to mitigate the environmental impact of trucking while fostering innovation in the transportation sector.
Using satellite data, researchers found that poor communities of color are highly exposed to toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution, largely due to diesel truck traffic.
