Civil and Municipal - Jan 22

10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 “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. “Major companies support this rule to increase the availability of clean vehicles for their supply chains. Many are already taking steps to turnover their fleets, but they need leading states to adopt strong policies to get this technology on the road at the scale and scope necessary to take on the climate crisis. 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.” “Sometimes the most difficult decision is acknowledging that a grave mistake has been made, and then embarking on unraveling the repercussions of that wrongdoing. In the context of the environment, many have made mistakes when it comes to the health, equity, and quality of life of our black, brown, and poor communities,” said Marcus Sibley, environmental and climate justice chairman at the New Jersey State Conference NAACP. “There are no perfect or quick fixes to the realities resulting from centuries of racist policies and practices, but we must take bold steps towards a better future for all. The adoption of the ACT rule is one such step, and we thank Governor Murphy and the NJDEP because clean air truly is a right.” “The Advanced Clean Truck rule is a major step forward for our climate and the health of our communities, as it electrifies the dirtiest vehicles on New Jersey roads,” said Hayley Berliner, Clean Energy Advocate with Environment New Jersey. “If we want to reach our ambitious climate goals, we must electrify everything on wheels in New Jersey and the Advanced Clean Truck rule is a critical way to do just that. We want to thank Governor Murphy, the NJDEP, and the entire administration for making New Jersey the East Coast leader for truck electrification.” “As more states act to adopt the ACT rule, it will create a tidal wave of demand for zero emission technologies and innovation - bringing more options and driving down costs. We know switching to all electric powered trucking and goods movement will not happen overnight; but it is an essential element to protecting public health, addressing the climate crisis, and creating family sustaining green jobs regardless of the zip code you live in,” said Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action. “By adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, New Jersey has demonstrated its strong commitment to a clean energy future by significantly decarbonizing its transportation sector,” said Jaqi Cohen, Director of Climate and Equity Policy at Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “Transportation currently accounts for the largest percentage of New Jersey’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, in large part due to its heavy reliance on diesel fueled vehicles. By advancing the ACT, New Jersey will significantly reduce the transportation sector’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels, and will act as a leader on climate change and lead the way for the rest of the nation. The adoption of the ACT is a win for our communities, our public health, and the future of our transportation sector, and we applaud Governor Murphy and the NJDEP on their decision.” New Jersey is leading the way to a more sustainable transportation system