Connecticut General Assembly Passes Legislation for Clean Trucks, Clean Air

HARTFORD, CT -  Today, days after its Senate passage, the Connecticut House passed legislation that would advance regulations for clean air and clean trucks, which will help to slash climate-disrupting emissions from one of Connecticut's most polluting sectors–transportation– and clean up air pollution in communities across the state.  

SB 4 gives Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) the authority to move forward with medium- and heavy-duty vehicle regulations adopted by a growing number of states from coast to coast, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. This will allow the state to proceed with adoption of various life-saving regulations that address nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution and would put more zero-emission trucks on the road, including the Advanced Clean Trucks rule and the Heavy Duty Omnibus rule. 

These rules will deliver clean air by deploying more electric trucks and by slashing pollution from diesel trucks currently on the roads. The bill also invests in and transitions the state fleet, transit buses, and school buses to electric, introduces consumer e-bike rebates, and expands access to electric vehicle charging.

“Today, the Connecticut House rightfully decided to move forward on a path to climate action and cleaner air for communities,” said Connecticut Sierra Club Director Samantha Dynowski. “We applaud lawmakers for passing legislation that will have a direct impact on the well-being of people across the state, especially our frontline communities living next to busy roadways and breathing in toxic pollution from gas-powered cars, trucks, and buses. We’re eagerly awaiting Governor Lamont to sign this legislation into law.”

“With the passage of SB4 - Connecticut joins California and Vermont in offering electric bicycle rebates. This will make our electric future accessible for all residents, but in particular, those most impacted by the harmful effects of climate change. Electric bicycles are a valuable tool in the fight against increasing emissions and reducing vehicle miles traveled. This is an exciting day for transportation equity and Connecticut is proud to join these efforts,” said Kate Rozen, Electric Bicycle Advocate/Transportation Cyclist.

“A huge step forward in the fight against toxic transportation emissions was taken today by forward thinking, committed legislators and policy makers with the passage of SB4,” said Amy Mclean, Acadia Center, CT Director and Senior Policy Advocate.  “This major piece of legislation will set the right path for how Connecticut deals with one of the major sources of air pollution that is sickening our residents and contributing to climate change. Acadia Center commends the Lamont administration for its brave leadership and congratulates all of the people who worked so hard to pass this bill and make this law a reality”

"America's cars, trucks, and other vehicles emit more carbon dioxide than the entire economy of any single country other than China and India," said Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut State Director. "By joining other states to adopt tough emissions standards reducing pollution from the tailpipes of trucks and other large vehicles, SB 4 helps put Connecticut on a path to eventually eliminate carbon pollution from cars, trucks, and buses."

“The climate crisis will not spare Connecticut, and our legislators are clearly taking this threat seriously,” said Conservation Law Foundation attorney Shannon Laun. “Accelerating our state's transition to clean cars, trucks, and buses will help us cut emissions and protect the air our families breathe. We commend the General Assembly and the Lamont administration for taking a decisive step in support of a clean transportation future.”

“Taking action to clean the air and slash dirty diesel truck pollution are some of the single most important things that Connecticut can do to reduce health burdens, improve quality of life, and move toward meaningfully reducing climate emissions. With the passage of Senate Bill 4 today, Connecticut has taken a historic step forward and demonstrated clear momentum on the road to clean transportation options. While much more will be necessary to ensure implementation and localized pollution reductions, this is a clean air victory worth celebrating.” said Paulina Muratore, Transportation Campaign Manager, Union of Concerned Scientists.

“We are excited to see SB-4, the clean air and climate action bill, coming to a vote this week in the Connecticut House after a positive vote in the Senate. Climate action and electrification shouldn’t just be for wealthy households and expensive electric cars. Electrifying school buses, electrifying bus transit, incentives for e-bikes, and reducing harmful emissions from trucks helps us all reach important climate goals while recognizing that the most air pollution has historically been concentrated in low-income communities. We must repair environmental injustice, disparate health outcomes, and transportation equity issues at the same time that we work together to address the climate emergency. SB-4 does that, and we congratulate the legislators in the Transportation and Environment Committees that brought this bill forward.” said Anthony Cherolis, Transportation Justice Manager at the Center for Latino Progress.

“We are very excited about passage of SB 4 for the multiple ways in which it helps address our greatest emissions challenge – transportation.  The medium and heavy duty vehicle standards are particularly important: although accounting for only 6% of vehicles on the road in Connecticut, they emit 25% of the State’s vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.  We need to join the other 6 states who have adopted these standards to do our part and to help move the nation forward as a whole,” said Nathan Frohling, Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut.

"The transition to a diverse climate economy demands action on transportation pollution," said Joe Curtaone, President of the Northeast Clean Energy Council. "Trucking lies at the core of our economy. When trucks run on clean energy, it moves the whole of our society forward on climate. With the passage of this crucial bill, Connecticut is poised to join leading states showing that we can turn the climate crisis into economic opportunity for all."

“By the time Senate Bill 4 was voted out of the Connecticut General Assembly, every legislator in the building understood that this was a top climate priority,” said Lori Brown, Executive Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. “There was tremendous public pressure on lawmakers to act decisively on climate and fully embrace the goals of clean energy and clean transportation for all. CTLCV thanks our top legislative leaders in  both the House and Senate, and the many legislative champions who fought hard for this landmark climate legislation.”