Science Group Urges Strong Greenhouse Gas Rule

The Union of Concerned Scientists wants two federal agencies to set a rigorous standard for improvement in their rule on greenhouse gas emissions by heavy- and medium-duty trucks, which is due by the end of March.

In a March 11 press briefing on the rule, UCS staff members said they would like to see a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from trucks by 2025 compared with a baseline of 2010. The advocacy group made their remarks in conjunction with the release of a report made by UCS’s clean vehicles program called “Engines for Change.”

Last year President Obama asked the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Safety Administration to write a second phase of the rule that caps CO2 emissions by trucks. Obama said then he wanted a formal proposal published by the end of March 2015.

An EPA spokeswoman said March 10 there has been no change made in that timetable.

“This is a unique opportunity to cut emissions,” said UCS spokesman Seth Michaels.

The report said improvement in truck engines is critical because of their broad use in the economy.

Bill Van Amburg, a senior vice president of transportation technology organization CalStart who worked on the report, said he appreciates the diverse nature of trucking, including big rigs for linehaul, smaller delivery vehicles and specialized trucks. Regardless of vehicle type, though, more efficient ones offer benefits.

“Fleets are already acting to moderate their fuel costs, and more efficient trucks are a critical tool for their toolbox,” Van Amburg said.

The first greenhouse rule for trucks tightened standards by 3% in 2014 over the 2010 baseline. The next round will tighten emissions by another 3% in January 2017. Phase 2 will probably affect trucks made in 2020 and afterward.