ON-AIR SEGMENT: Joe Griffo discusses recent Albany meeting over New York's Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) Rule
ALBANY, NY- While both chambers of the legislature were still negotiating a state budget deal late last month, one North Country lawmaker convened a meeting in Albany between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and business owners, local officials, statewide association representatives and others who have been or may be negatively affected by New York's Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) Rule.
“I appreciate the willingness of EPA Regional Administrator Martucci and his staff to meet with some of those affected by the ACT Rule,” Sen. Griffo said.
“This meeting was an important opportunity for area business owners, trucking associations and local officials to discuss concerns with this problematic regulation directly with the EPA. While I understand the need to embrace clean energy, the CLCPA has resulted in unfordable mandates, including this electric truck regulation, that will have major impacts on numerous communities, businesses and industries in New York. I will continue to advocate reasonable and realistic deadlines and expectations to reach the state’s energy goals.”
Be sure to listen to our latest on-air segment with the Senator for more of his insight:
The meeting was part of Griffo’s ongoing efforts to help truck dealerships, individual truck owners, commercial trucking companies, municipal highway departments and local governments deal with this regulation, which has received loyal support Democratic leaders, according to a statement from his office.
To clarify, Senator Griffo has stated numerous times in the past that he is certainly not opposed to cleaner energy goals, but rather he questions some of the approaches to zero emission energy and whether or not these goals are feasible.
In late 2021, Griffo says the governor announced that the ACT Rule had been adopted as part of the state’s efforts to meet the targets of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which he did not support.
The regulation would require that medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including municipal plows, be manufactured as zero emission starting in 2025, with the goal of 100% of trucks over 8,500 pounds to be zero emission by 2045.
However, groups like the New York State Automobile Dealers Association, Trucking Association of New York, New York State County Highway Association and local highway superintendents and departments and Utica Mack, Inc. have pushed back against this regulation because it would be detrimental to businesses and communities.
They have urged that the state slow down implementation because of a lack of needed equipment and that the required infrastructure is not yet ready for this significant shift to zero emission vehicles.
Sen. Griffo has introduced legislation (S.1749) that would delay the implementation of the ACT regulation to provide more time to fully understand the effect that this rule would have on industries and municipalities in the state.
Assemblywoman Buttenschon has sponsored a companion bill (A.1073) in the Assembly.
New York State Senator Joe Griffo image.
