
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker wants to incentivize purchases of zero-direct-emission large trucks.
Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe, has reintroduced a bill that would create a Near-Zero-Emission Truck Incentive Program. She introduced an identical version of the bill in November as the General Assembly was nearing the end of its two-year session. The bill did not receive consideration prior to adjournment.
If approved, the grant program would be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The state Department of Environmental Protection would work in consultation with the highway department to reduce emission from large trucks traveling in the Commonwealth.
Background
“The federal government took steps to tightly regulate heavy-duty truck emissions between model years 2007 and 2010 by requiring the standardization of selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters,” Brown wrote in a memo seeking Senate co-sponsors.
She added that trucks sold in 2006 emit roughly 10 times the amount of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter as trucks sold today.
Brown told lawmakers that about 34% of trucks registered in Pennsylvania are pre-2010 model trucks. She pointed out those trucks do not contain the latest emission components and, as a result, contribute the majority of emission from the trucking industry in the Commonwealth.
“The proposed grant program will lead to the replacement of these trucks with newer, much cleaner trucks, resulting in lower emissions from the trucking industry and cleaner air for all,” she said.
Also, she added that the addition of multiple standard safety technologies by original equipment manufacturers in post-2010 vehicles would directly save lives.
Senate Bill 147
Brown’s bill, SB147, would require PennDOT and the state DEP to apply for federal funds available for the purpose of reducing pollution.
The state would use the federal funds to create a grant program to incentive the purchase of model year 2010 or newer trucks to be titled and registered in Pennsylvania. A requirement is included that a trade-in of a pre-2010 diesel truck that is also titled and registered in Pennsylvania would be prohibited from being titled or registered again in another state.
“No other single technology transfer can affect Pennsylvania’s air quality and provide immediate health benefits as much as replacing pre-2010 trucks with post-2010 models,” Brown wrote.
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association backs bill
The state trucking association said one in every 15 jobs in the state is in the trucking industry. Most are described as small, locally owned businesses, with 96% having 10 or fewer trucks.
The group added that many of these small businesses likely will never be in the market for a new diesel truck, much less a new electric truck, which costs as much as two to three times that of a new clean diesel truck.
“Public policy should focus on the small businesses in the freight transportation sector that can benefit the most from upgrading to newer trucks, which are not only cleaner but are also safer and more efficient,” a PMTA statement reads.
SB147 has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee. LL
More Land Line coverage of news from Pennsylvania.
Credit: Source link