This week, the Environmental Protection Agency issued final rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy duty vehicles including semi-trucks, buses, garbage trucks and delivery trucks. The final rule is a technology neutral policy and requires a phase down of GHG emissions in model years 2027 through 2032.
According to EPA, when fully implemented, the final rule will result in “$13 billion of annualized benefits through the year 2055”, including, “$300 million in annualized benefits from reduced emissions of fine particulate matter.”
"I applaud EPA for issuing a strong final rule to reduce pollution, including GHG emissions, from heavy duty trucks,” says Gillian Goobie MD, PhD – Vice Chair of the ATS Environmental Health Policy Committee. “Reducing emissions from future model year trucks will improve our air quality, our health and our environment and will complement previous actions EPA has taken to address climate change and air pollution. But, even as we celebrate the action EPA is taking today, there is more to be done. EPA must finalize the rule to reduce power plant emissions. And EPA must approve the waivers to allow California to take aggressive action to reduce GHG emissions. These further actions are essential for EPA to address climate change."