April 21, 2023
DENVER — The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission today unanimously approved Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Low-NOx rules, which will require manufacturers of trucks, buses, and vans to ensure that a certain percentage of their new sales are zero-emission vehicles and require stronger pollution controls on new diesel engines.
“Colorado’s decision to approve the Advanced Clean Trucks rule will rapidly accelerate the adoption of zero-emission trucks in the state,” said Aaron Kressig, the transportation electrification manager at Western Resource Advocates. “This is a critical step on our journey to improve our air quality and address the threat of climate change. The Air Quality Control Commission’s vote today cements the state as a regional leader in cleaning up the transportation sector.”
The new Clean Trucks standard will bring significant health benefits to Coloradans. Right now, diesel trucks are responsible for 59% of toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and 55% of poisonous particulate matter air pollution, despite only representing 10% of vehicles in Colorado. These fossil fuel vehicles are responsible for air pollution that causes asthma, lung cancer, and even premature death, especially in Colorado’s low-income and diverse communities.
Zero-emission vehicles are powered by batteries charged from Colorado’s increasingly clean electric grid. The ACT rule requires that by 2035, zero-emission truck sales would need to be 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4 – 8 truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales.
By approving ACT and the Low-NOx rules, Colorado is well-positioned to take advantage of a once-in-a-generation influx of federal funding to spur the transition to clean, electric trucks. Colorado is the eighth state in the U.S. to adopt an ACT rule, joining California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington; Connecticut, Illinois, Maine and Maryland are currently in the process of adoption.
To read more about ACT and what it means for Colorado’s businesses and our communities, check out our blog post here.
“Colorado’s decision to approve the Advanced Clean Trucks rule will rapidly accelerate the adoption of zero-emission trucks in the state,” said Aaron Kressig, the transportation electrification manager at Western Resource Advocates. “This is a critical step on our journey to improve our air quality and address the threat of climate change. The Air Quality Control Commission’s vote today cements the state as a regional leader in cleaning up the transportation sector.”
Contact
James Quirk, 908-902-3177, james.quirk@westernresources.org
