PRESS RELEASE - July 26, 2023
Connecticut Joins States Across the Region, Announcing Plans to Adopt Live-Saving Clean Cars and Trucks Standards
Hartford — Today, Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and the Environment announced that they are moving forward with plans to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars (ACCII), Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) programs this year. This announcement sets the state on a path to lower vehicle emissions and a healthy transition to electric vehicles and cleaner air.
The transportation sector contributes 38% of the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other sector. Tailpipe pollution is also responsible for 67% of the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a key component of smog that causes increased risk of asthma, lung disease and cancer. In Connecticut specifically, 4 out of 8 counties received F grades from the American Lung Association due to high ozone days.
Heavy-duty trucks and buses make up just 6% of all on-road vehicles across the states, but are responsible for over 50% of all NOx pollution and 45% of the diesel soot, also known as fine particulate matter, which finds its way deep into the lungs resulting in early death attributed to cardiovascular diseases, like heart attacks and strokes, as well as lung cancer, reproductive and developmental harm, and even diabetes and dementia.
The ACCII, ACT and HDO programs will clean up Connecticut’s air by cutting harmful transportation emissions. The ACCII sets increasing electric vehicle sales targets until 2035 when all new vehicle sales in Connecticut will be electric. The ACT ensures an increasing percentage of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks are sold each year by setting electric truck sales targets. Finally, the HDO reduces smog forming emissions from heavy-duty vehicles with more stringent emission standards for new engines.
In response to today’s news, Connecticut clean air advocates released the following statements:
“Today marks a win for clean vehicles and clean air for our communities,” said Samantha Dynowski, Director of Sierra Club Connecticut. “We applaud the Lamont Administration for advancing these important programs to reduce transportation pollution in Connecticut, which will improve public health and protect the climate.”
“Two decades ago, Connecticut became a leader on cleaner transportation by adopting the Clean Cars I standards,” said Charles Rothenberger, climate and energy attorney at Save the Sound. “Now it’s time to take the next step in achieving the kind of emissions reductions we must in order to responsibly address climate change. Taken together, the regulations introduced today will provide long overdue updates to our vehicle standards, placing Connecticut on the path to transforming and modernizing the transportation sector and providing substantial environmental and health benefits for the citizens of Connecticut.”
“I am heartened by the announcement of these proposed regulations to help curb transportation emissions by the Lamont Administration and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection,” said Jayson Velazquez, Climate and Energy Justice Policy Associate, Acadia Center. “Measures like these will strengthen Connecticut’s position as a leader in climate action. I look forward to continued collaboration between the administration and our coalition partners to achieve equitable and timely emissions reductions.”
“Every faith tradition speaks of our moral responsibility to care for the planet and to uplift the cause of justice for those who are oppressed, marginalized, or harmed,” said Terri Eickel, CT Interfaith Power & Light/Interreligious Eco-Justice Network. “In addition, caring for the environment is linked to other ministries faith communities are engaged in, such as responding to extreme weather disasters, illness, and hunger. In our congregations, we see children suffering from asthma and older people struggling with respiratory illnesses. CT Interfaith Power & Light and the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network strongly support the adoption of advanced regulations to reduce car and truck emissions, which will improve air quality and protect public health and the environment.”
“Tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks overheat the planet and pollute the air in our communities, with the worst impacts in low-income and minority neighborhoods,” said Shannon Laun, Vice President of Conservation Law Foundation Connecticut. “These new rules are a critical step forward in confronting the climate crisis and cleaning up the air for people in Connecticut.”
"Every day, fossil fuel powered cars, trucks and buses emit pollutants that intensify global warming and contribute to toxic air pollution.” said Kevin Shen, Policy Analyst, The Union of Concerned Scientists. “Transitioning Connecticut’s over 145,000 trucks and buses to zero-emissions vehicles would be a huge step addressing this while reducing truck fleet costs, and providing well-paying jobs. Connecticut here has the chance to continue building the momentum for clean trucks across the region and across the country."
“By adopting clean car and truck standards, Connecticut is making a commitment to cleaner air, improved public health, and climate change mitigation. The electric vehicle revolution is upon us, and the benefits are far-reaching — even for those who never plan to get behind the wheel of an EV," said Kathy Harris, Senior Clean Vehicles and Fuels Advocate, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "ACCII, ACT, and HDO are common-sense programs because gas- and diesel-powered vehicles spew health-harming particulate matter into the air, causing thousands of premature deaths in the United States yearly.”
“We are pleased that the Lamont administration is moving forward with adoption of these vehicle standards,” said Nathan Frohling, Director of External Affairs, The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut. “These rules will accelerate the necessary, large-scale transition to zero-emission vehicles across the state. Such a step is critical towards lowering Connecticut’s transportation emissions.”