Calif. Lawmakers Approve Low-Emission, Alt-Fuel Truck Incentive Bills

California legislators have approved a pair of bills that would provide funding to help fleets purchase low-emission trucks and encourage the development and use of alternative-fuel trucks.

One of the bills, approved by the Senate and Assembly on Sept. 11, would extend through 2023 the collection of fees needed to fund the state’s clean fuel and vehicle grant programs, including the popular Carl Moyer program intended to help small fleets replace their older-model trucks with new low-emission vehicles.

The other bill provides additional funding to the California Air Resources Board to support rebates for alternative-fuel vehicle purchases, vehicle retirements and heavy-duty vehicle upgrades, with an emphasis on hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses.

The bills also dedicate funding to construct the minimum fueling infrastructure necessary to support the impending introduction of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.