An Assembly committee has unanimously voted to advance a bill that would delay New Jersey's compliance with California's clean-engine rules for medium and heavy-duty trucks. The legislation, supported by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and the state's trucking industry, seeks a two-year postponement.
The bill, A-4967, is sponsored by Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (D-36). It was released after extensive testimony from businesses highlighting the lack of public infrastructure for charging electric vehicle (EV) truck fleets. They argued that the current implementation date of January 1 would disrupt supply chains and increase costs.
The Senate version of the bill, S-3817, sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan (D-18), also enjoys bipartisan support but was not up for a vote.
Both pieces of legislation require the state Department of Environmental Protection to push back the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations' start date from January 1, 2025, to at least January 1, 2027.
Ray Cantor, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer, expressed urgency about the situation: “We are rapidly approaching the day of reckoning if this bill does not become law or if alterations are not made to the Advanced Clean Truck rule by Jan. 1.”
Cantor added that without intervention, "the rule will needlessly cost the trucking industry hundreds of millions of dollars" and impact logistics and supply chains. He suggested New Jersey should consider following states like Massachusetts and Oregon that have already delayed similar regulations.
Efforts to postpone or amend these rules continue in New York among lawmakers and stakeholders. Additionally, ACT is facing legal challenges in federal court from attorneys general across 19 states along with various stakeholders.
Under New Jersey's current plan starting with model year 2025, new trucks must meet zero-emission vehicle sales targets increasing annually through model year 2035. In California's system, manufacturers earn credits only when ZEVs are sold in-state. If unsold ZEVs accumulate on dealer lots while customers wait for gas-powered alternatives unavailable due to credit shortfalls, business complications arise.
Cantor pointed out potential consequences: “If the rule is not delayed, purchasers will be forced to buy diesel trucks out-of-state,” impacting local dealers adversely.
