Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that, it’s “a ‘Moral Obligation’ for California to ban diesel-powered trucks to rectify ‘Decades of Racist’ practices. How does that make any sense? It doesn’t!
By Lauren Fix, The Car Coach
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is considering new regulations to ban the sale of all diesel semi-trucks by 2040 to fight climate change and rectify a legacy of racist practices, according to a CARB report released on Aug. 30. The proposal would require medium and heavy-duty trucks entering ports and railyards to be fully electric by 2035. CARB believes that such freight vehicles should be banned because the diesel emissions that come from such vehicles disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities due to racist zoning policies.
The report stated that “Decades of racist and classist practices, including red-lining and siting decisions, have concentrated heavy-duty vehicle and freight activities in these communities, with leads to disproportionate pollution burdens,” the regulators stated. “CARB has legal and moral obligations to lessen these burdens.” CARB must vote on the proposal to ban diesel semi-trucks on Oct. 27. The proposed regulations would also require state and local government vehicle fleets to be fully electric by 2027, according to the report.
Remember, 17 other states follow Californias emissions laws, and this may be unconstitutional but don’t be surprised if your state is next.
“Black and Latino populations experiencing significantly greater air pollution impacts than white populations,” CARB added. “Communities in and around ports move much of the nation’s freight, and so experience pollution on a national scale in their neighborhoods.”
California passed a new regulation on Aug. 25 that will require 100% of new cars sold in California by 2035 to be electric, up from the current 12%. Interim targets also require 35% of vehicles sold in the state by 2026 to produce zero emissions, rising to 68% by 2030.