Sander Kushen, sander.kushen@sierraclub.org
TRACY, Calif. — The Sierra Club announced a legal settlement with Costco today that will require a massive, 1.7-million-square-foot warehouse project in Tracy to transition to an electric truck fleet years ahead of state mandates. The settlement, which resolves California Environmental Quality Act claims, also requires on-site solar generation, charging infrastructure and other requirements to mitigate air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the project.
“This settlement transforms what would have been business as usual diesel truck trips into a cutting edge transition plan for zero-emission vehicles,” said Eric Parfrey, a long-time activist from Sierra Club's Mother Lode Chapter. “These clean fleet requirements, along with Costco's mandate to supply 100% of the project's electricity demand with renewable energy, will prevent toxic air pollution and save lives in San Joaquin County.”
Under the agreement, 72 percent of heavy-duty trucks transporting goods from the facility to market delivery operations in other cities must be zero-emission by the end of 2027. Costco's on-site cargo handling equipment must be fully electric at the start of operations, and trucks at the project site will have to adhere to strict idling limits. The deal also requires Costco to power the project entirely with 100% renewable electricity and on-site solar generation.
The Costco settlement goes far beyond California's Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, which mandates only 11 percent of new heavy-duty truck sales be zero-emission by 2025. It represents the strongest clean fleet requirements the Sierra Club has achieved in any warehouse deal to date.
“The residents of Tracy can now breathe a bit easier,” Parfrey added. “Warehouse projects like this have the potential to benefit communities, but local government must proactively safeguard air quality from warehouse trucks and operations. This settlement will save the lives of children, our elderly and our other most vulnerable community members.”
The City of Tracy’s Planning Commission will meet at 7:00 on Wednesday, December 4. The Sierra Club will be requesting that the city updates its Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program in order to allow the city to track the measures in the settlement.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.