EPA Considering Tougher Emission Rules for Big Trucks

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reportedly consider adopting new emissions rules for large trucks after Congress passed fresh incentives designed to accelerate the national adoption of zero-emission vehicles.

Environmental regulations have become quite the slippery fish of late. Over the summer, the Supreme Court ruled against the agency (West Virginia v. EPA) and functionally limited its authority — especially in regard to the greenhouse gasses emitted from power plants. But the EPA has still been flexing its muscles and doing its utmost to advance the Biden administration’s stated agenda of ensuring the swift adoption of all-electric vehicles while also pushing forward some preexisting proposals of its own.

In March, the agency floated new rules to cut smog-forming and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. Reuters has since reported that the EPA has confirmed that it will be revisiting those proposed GHG rules now that there’s a boatload of new climate spending outlined in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act. All told, the legislation sets aside roughly $369 billion in incentives for energy and climate-related programs.

“... the big change here is the Inflation Reduction Act. Congress definitely sent a very strong message backed by significant resources,” EPA Office of Air and Radiation official Joseph Goffman explained to Reuters.

According to the outlet, the EPA will be issuing a supplemental notice of the proposed rules to consider even more stringent standards for vehicles MY 2027-2029 this December. This is based on the premise that the additional funding will make it possible for higher annual EV adoption rates in the United States than previously assumed.

The EPA suggested in March that the new heavy truck emission standards could result in “up to” 24-25 percent lower CO2 emissions when the plan reaches peak performance. Vehicles being targeted include most tractor vehicles, school buses, city buses, commercial delivery trucks, and more.

We'll just how much higher the EPA is aiming in a couple of months.

[Image: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock]

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