Maryland League of Conservation Voters * Chispa Maryland *
Maryland Sierra Club * Union of Concerned Scientists * Policy Foundation of Maryland
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2023
Contacts: Ramon Palencia-Calvo. rpcalvo@mdlcv.org
Lindsey Mendelson, lindsey.mendelson@mdsierra.org
Proposed legislation will speed transition from diesel school buses and trucks
(Annapolis) – Children, parents, and other advocates joined state legislators today in Annapolis to show support for the Clean Trucks Act, which will speed the transition of diesel school buses and trucks to zero-emission, clean vehicles. The rally sponsors also called for additional funding for Maryland school districts that hope to transition their school bus fleets to electric buses.
“Diesel school buses emit pollutants that kids breathe into their developing lungs,” said Ramon Palencia-Calvo, director of Maryland LCV’s program, Chispa Maryland, which organized the event with partners. “We need to protect the health of our children by transitioning school bus fleets to clean, zero-emission electric school buses.”
The Clean Trucks Act of 2023 (HB 230/SB 224), sponsored by Delegate Sara Love and President Pro Tem Malcolm Augustine, would require vehicle manufacturers to sell an increasing annual percentage of zero-emission trucks and school buses beginning in Maryland from Model Year 2027 through 2035.
“Nationwide, trucks account for 10 percent of vehicles on the road, but contribute 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions,” said President Pro Tem Malcolm Augustine. “To confront the growing threat of climate change to meet the emission-reduction goals codified in the Climate Solutions Now Act, Maryland must take bold steps to address the pollution coming from the transportation sector. This bill does just that.”
“Electrifying trucks and school buses will help Marylanders breathe cleaner air and tackle the pollution that is contributing to the climate crisis,” said Delegate Sara Love, (D16 of Montgomery County). “I’m proud to sponsor the Clean Trucks Act of 2023 so that Maryland can make steps toward building a healthier and brighter future for school children and our communities.”
“Climate change harms Marylanders' health and our environment,” said Josh Tulkin, Director, Maryland Sierra Club. “With the passage of the Climate Solutions Now Act, Maryland committed to ambitious goals reducing climate pollution. Medium-and heavy-duty vehicles are a key part of that strategy. These trucks, delivery vans, and buses are the second largest source of climate pollution from the transportation sector.”
“We need to have clean air and a reduction in noise pollution, said Sarahia Benn of Policy Foundation Maryland. “Adopting the Advanced Clean trucks rule would be a game changer for my community because we'd move from having people experiencing negative health impacts to having a better quality of life.”
"The IBEW embraces all forms of clean energy, whether it be in the home, at the utility level or in transportation,” said Tom Clark, Political Director/Business Representative, IBEW Local 26. “Electric trucks and vehicles will be making the air safer for our children and grandchildren. The same children that will soon be entering IBEW apprenticeships and learning how to install electric vehicle charging stations making the world a better place for all. This better place starts with legislation at the local and state level, which the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers supports."
“Maryland, like the rest of the nation, is in the midst of a truck crash fatality crisis,” said Zach Cahaln, Executive Director of the Truck Safety Coalition. “Truck crash deaths have increased 46 percent since 2011, irreparably devastating hundreds of families. As trucks begin to electrify we must take advantage of proven safety features like side underride guards, automatic emergency braking and advanced driver assistance systems to turn the tide.”
Several Maryland school districts already have electric school buses in their fleets, and the number is growing. Recent innovations, such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, coupled with the lower costs of operating and maintaining electric buses, have made them financially attractive for schools.
“In Maryland, approximately one in ten children suffer from asthma, and this rate is higher among minority groups,” said Palencia-Calvo. “Children riding in zero-emission buses have reduced exposure to air pollution, less pulmonary inflammation, more rapid lung growth over time and lower absenteeism compared to children riding in diesel buses, particularly those with asthma. We need to encourage even more school districts to transition their fleets to zero-emission school buses.”
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