Ceres joins major companies with employees and operations in New Jersey to applaud the Murphy administration for adopting new rules today that will accelerate the growth of clean trucks, vans, and other large commercial vehicles.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) approved the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule today, which requires manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to grow sales of zero-emission models by an increasing rate over time in the states where the policy is adopted.
Leading companies are increasingly demanding clean trucks and vans to help them meet their climate and pollution goals, and to save on the costs of fuel and maintenance, but there is limited availability of zero-emission vehicle models that meet the needs of the companies. The ACT rule is designed to dramatically increase the sales and development of the technology by driving bulk production that will lower costs for both manufacturers and purchasers.
“IKEA is committed to 100% zero emissions home deliveries by 2025. As we drive toward our vision for a clean transportation future, we need smart policies to help accelerate the availability of and access to medium-and heavy -duty electric vehicles,” said Steve Moelk, fulfillment project implementation manager, IKEA Retail U.S. “The ACT rule is vital to helping New Jersey companies meet our climate goals to move away from dirty deliveries and toward a cleaner and more just economy.”
“Nestlé thanks the Murphy Administration for adopting the ACT rule to dramatically expand the market for zero-emission commercial vehicles in New Jersey,” said Frank Taylor, Policy Analyst, Nestlé. “Companies like ours know we must electrify our supply chains. Cleaning up freight and delivery services at the scale necessary to tackle our public health and the climate challenges requires strong state and federal policies. The ACT rule will help us and those in our supply chain meet this challenge, while building out the trucking industry of the future.”
“More and more, companies are beginning to make the shift to electric fleets and want policies put in place that will make this transition easier,” said Chris King, SVP, eMobility Strategic Partnerships, Siemens. “The ACT rule will expand the market and help get a more diverse array of electric vehicles on our nation’s roads. By adopting the ACT rule, New Jersey has established itself and the companies that do businesses on its roads as clean transportation leaders—while also bringing health and equitable economic benefits to their communities.”
IKEA, Nestlé, and Siemens were among dozens of major companies, employers, and investors that signed a letter earlier this year urging governors across the country to adopt the ACT rule.
“Increased access to cost-effective zero-emission commercial vehicles across states will allow us to remain competitive in a market where our customers, investors, patients, and employees increasingly expect us to lead on sustainability,” the companies wrote in the letter. “A growing number of clean vehicles offer significant cost savings through lower fuel and maintenance costs, and reduce the risk associated with the volatility of fossil fuel prices and supply.”
New Jersey is the fourth state to adopt the ACT rule, following California, Oregon, and Washington. Colorado, Massachusetts, and New York are also considering adoption. Supporters of the policy say it will have a greater impact as more states join in by setting high standards across regional markets. The market growth would also help spark a large-scale buildout of much-needed vehicle charging infrastructure.
The policy is also critical to reducing climate pollution from freight, delivery, and other commercial uses. Transportation is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., which warm the planet and fuel heat waves, drought, and storms. Although they represent just 5% of vehicles on U.S. roads and account for just 10% of all miles driven, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are responsible for nearly a quarter of pollution from the nation’s transportation sector. This pollution disproportionately impacts neighborhoods that border highways, major roads, and shipping centers, and are often lower-income communities and communities of color.
“With today’s decision, New Jersey is leading the way to a more sustainable transportation system. While there is much more work to be done to reduce emissions in frontline communities, adopting the ACT rule is a good first step,” said Jennifer Helfrich, senior manager, state policy, Ceres. “We hope today’s decision will drive adoption in additional states so that communities across the country can reap the major climate, public health, and business benefits of this technology.”
About Ceres
Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.