New Jersey Joins 15-State Truck Electrification Pact, Committing To Lead On Air Pollution and Climate Change

Media Contacts

Environment New Jersey

Trenton – Today New Jersey was one of fifteen states to release an MOU laying out a collaborative framework to expand use of electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, with a target of 30% electric trucks by 2030 and 100% electric trucks by 2050. The motion puts participating states on track to achieve similarly ambitious electric truck mandates to that recently released by the California Air Resources Board and positions the Northeast to develop a regional, self-sustaining market for electric trucks. The focus for vehicle electrification includes diesel big rig trucks, drayage trucks, delivery vehicles, school and transit buses, to name a few.

Within six months, the ZEV Task Force is to release a coordinated Action Plan proposing concrete measures to allow participating states to meet these goals, including options for funding. Priorities laid out in the MOU include acceleration of projects in areas burdened by high pollution levels – such as those adjacent to ports, highways and trucking corridors — as well as “leading by example” through electrification of public fleets in participating states and maximizing use of renewable energy in charging.

The MOU follows a Request For Information put out last week by NJEDA on investment in electrification projects of funds raised through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-investment program to reduce carbon pollution from regional power plants with the goal of reducing emissions and creating clean energy jobs regionally.

Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey, issued the following statement: 

“No package delivered by a diesel truck is worth dirty air, asthma and climate change. It’s time to shift past the old ways of thinking and move toward a clean environment with trucks that don’t pollute. Clean electric trucks can clear the air and help stave off the worst impacts of climate change. That’s the delivery we are all waiting for. This plan will play a major role in realizing that goal. We applaud the statesinvolved, including the Murphy Administration, for charting a path for zero-emission electric trucks to clean up our roads.”