The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its strictest greenhouse gas emission limits for big trucks and buses.
These 2027-2032 standards aim to considerably cut emissions from a major global warming driver. Since they account for 25% of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, heavy-duty vehicles have been a focus of emission reduction efforts for a long time, according to The Verge.
The EPA forecasts that these new laws will avert a billion tons of pollution by 2055, equivalent to 13 million gasoline-fueled tanker trucks.
Environmentalists and public health experts applauded the move. In a press call with EPA Administrator Michael Regan, American Lung Association national senior vice president of public policy Paul Billings commended Regan for efforts to improve air quality for 72 million Americans near truck freight routes.
Technology-Neutral Policy Assured
However, industry stakeholders protested the restrictions. The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association worried that truck drivers may be tempted to use older, more polluting cars to avoid the higher expenses of transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.
The Biden administration says the guidelines are "technology-neutral," allowing firms to choose vehicles with advanced internal combustion engines, electric motors, fuel cells, or hybrids. The government expects $3,700 to $10,500 in fuel and maintenance savings for heavy-duty trucks acquired in 2032.
Last week, the Biden administration lowered its objective from 67% to 35% of US highways having electric vehicles (EVs) by 2032. This adjustment was made in response to the car industry and autoworker opposition, particularly in Michigan, a politically powerful state, according to a Reuters report.
By adopting a "technology neutral" stance in its regulatory framework, the EPA has given manufacturers more latitude in meeting emissions regulations with gas-electric hybrid vehicles.
Environmental Initiatives and Politics
Environmentalists oppose this move because hybrids postpone the switch to EVs. The EPA also recommends "advanced gasoline" technology, including turbocharging, lighter automobiles, and stop-start ignition systems to save fuel.
Despite criticisms, EPA Administrator Michael Regan noted that the new regulations would still result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, even with the change in strategy. He emphasized that the rules are performance-based, allowing manufacturers to choose the pollution control solutions that best suit their customers instead of mandating the use of electric cars.
The action that the amended guidelines will reduce emissions by 49% by 2032 compared to 2026 levels, which is a significant change from the 56% suggested last year. According to Regan, there has been little change in the overall effect on emissions between the first draft and the final regulation.
This EPA action reflects Joe Biden's US presidential re-election campaign, especially in battleground areas like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Both Biden and his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, acknowledge the importance of these industrial states, where job security is a critical concern throughout the electric vehicle transition.
The greenhouse gas emissions limits, likely one of Joe Biden's last significant environmental policy initiatives before the election, highlight the tricky balance between environmental and economic aims in greener transportation options.
In 2021, China, the United States, India, Russia, and Japan were identified as the top producers of CO2 emissions worldwide, according to Investopedia. US emissions come largely from the transportation sector, where fossil fuels are burned to power automobiles, ships, aircraft, and other vehicles.
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