A COALITION comprising transportation organizations, shippers, and agricultural exporters is expressing concern that California's ambitious timelines for implementing clean air regulations may be jeopardized unless the state's commercial entities are given sufficient resources to enhance the required technology and infrastructure to comply with the regulations, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
In a letter addressed to Governor Gavin Newsom, the coalition sought a "results-oriented" dialogue with the governor and other state officials.
The purpose of this conversation is to discuss the regulations, some of which came into effect on January 1, and to assess the potential impact these rules will have on freight transportation and agricultural shipments within the state.
"We understand that aggressive deadlines energize air goals, but our assessment is that these will eventually prove to be unrealistic unless government provides sufficient financial support and regulator flexibility to make them happen," said the letter.
The primary apprehension among members of the coalition is that the goals set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for emissions reduction may prove unattainable for freight transportation interests.
This concern arises from what they perceive as a current deficiency in technology and insufficient infrastructure supporting zero-emission vehicles within the port-related supply chain.
For instance, the coalition highlights California's Advanced Clean Fleet regulation, which mandates that starting January 1, all new trucks entering over-the-road and drayage fleets must be zero-emission.
The broader requirement stipulates that all trucks in the state must comply with this rule by 2035. Additionally, farmers will face obligations to gradually introduce zero-emission off-road vehicles and tractors.
The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), representing ocean carriers and terminal operators on the West Coast, has actively communicated concerns to state regulatory agencies.
These concerns revolve around the economic, technological, and infrastructure challenges associated with meeting California's stringent clean-air requirements, encompassing vessels, trucks, trains, and cargo-handling equipment in the port-related supply chain.
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