[Freight Weekly] California Can Uphold Own Clean Fleet Rules

⚖️The federal Environmental Protection Agency can issue exemptions to the state of California in favor of it upholding its own clean fleet rules⚖️

In a federal court decision in the case Ohio v. EPA, a judge has officially upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce its highly controversial Advanced Clean Fleets rules for clean trucking. Here’s what you need to know:

• Seventeen states, led by Ohio, and several petroleum fueling industry trade groups sued the EPA in a federal court to block the agency from ultimately getting an exemption to follow federal electronic vehicle regs.

• Trade groups like the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the National Association of Convenience Stores joined the suit.

• The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Western States Trucking Association filed amicus briefs to favor the plaintiffs.

• The court decision indicates that it would impact trucking through controversial California regulations such as the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule handed down by the California Air Resources Board.

• The ACF rule by the board requires fleets to be fully electric and be zero carbon-emitting by the model year 2036 to expedite net-zero targets in a bid to fight against climate change and other environmental damages.

Bottom line: Be prepared for ACF. California is allowed to implement sweeping environmental rule changes on clean trucking, clean cars, and other elements of transportation that will carry over across the United States to reach net zero.

CONTEXT: Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr-Backed Group Sues California Over CARB Regulations Like ACF

Quote of the Day: ACF and the California Air Resources Board’s intent…

“There’s much to understand about the regulation and how it will impact fleets of all sizes. ACF is part of the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) broader strategy to ensure a cleaner environment. This mandate will reshape the landscape for vehicle fleets.”

- Lisa Drake, assistant director of electrification for Merchants Fleet, via Power

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📰  WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN FREIGHT

🔍Investigators focusing Dali-bridge collision probe on power systems: The National Transportation Safety Board said it is focusing its investigation into the MV Dali-Key bridge vessel collision on power systems and circuit breakers.

👁️‍🗨️Speaking of NTSB… East Palestine derailment report due out in June: In similar NTSB news, the report on the Norfolk Southern derailment in the Ohio village of East Palestine is due out in June 2024, highlighting key details.

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