Attention MMTA Members
As reported yesterday, there was a 10-hour Board of Environmental Protection meeting held last Thursday where they heard from about equal amounts of supporters and opponents to adopt California regulations for Maine cars and Medium & Heavy-Duty Trucks. MMTA and our members were well represented as were our counterparts from other blue-collar industries who rely on trucking and an efficient supply chain. WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL MONDAY TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
Supporters of this California Rule to require ELECTRIC TRUCKS are submitting written comments for the BEP to consider. Their testimony made it clear that the environment is way too important to quibble over the negative economic impacts on Mainers, jobs, the supply chain, or even the practicalities of annoyances like the grid not being ready for MHDV electrification or the trivial fact that charging infrastructure doesn’t exist either. According to them, these realities should be ignored. Because the environment.
As sarcastic as this sounds, it is true. Which makes it all the more important for you to SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS so the BEP Board understands the realities of implementing MHDV electrification mandates BEFORE MAINE IS READY.
Submitting written comments is easy and we have attempted to make writing those comments just as convenient. The
link below generates an email that, once sent, will include your comments in the information the BEP Board will receive to make their decision this fall. To help you generate comments, we have worked with the
Mainers for Smart Energy to come up with some points for you to copy and paste and make your own. Also feel free to use any of the points made in the
written comments submitted by the MMTA as well.
- Public and private EV charging stations are limited and they are not equipped to handle heavy trucks.
- Investment in more expensive trucks, charging stations, and meeting the demand for power through transmission and delivery upgrades will cost Maine businesses, Maine taxpayers and Maine consumers.
- Remote locations for product delivery will be challenging along with routes that do not have charging capacity, such as rural Maine or new buildings.
- The trucking industry might feel differently about MHDV electrification if plans were in place to address Maine’s needed grid upgrades to handle the additional electrical demand, nonexistent charging infrastructure that will result in supply chain chaos, and there was a plan to incentivize adoption of ZEV trucks due to their 3x higher cost to purchase than their clean diesel counterparts.
- MHDV electrification may be one of many solutions to consider in the future when Maine is ready for adoption. Taking a chance on adopting these mandates too early will have serious consequences for Mainers.
- New EV trucks are not currently equipped to handle additional equipment like snowplows, dump bodies, cranes, and other important tools.
- The range of new EV trucks, especially given Maine's cold weather climate, is a limiting factor for consumers and could create additional trucks needed for companies who have to meet product delivery schedules.
- Maine shouldn't allow California lawmakers to craft our regulations.
- Consumer choice to purchase the vehicle that meets their needs for commercial activity is important. Additionally, New Hampshire isn't moving to adopt it, meaning Maine businesses will be competing with other states that can offer more choices and solutions.
- The uncertainty of adopting the CA ACT before important questions are answered will create chaos in an already fragile supply chain, and consumers/taxpayers will end up paying higher prices.
IF MMTA MEMBERS DO NOT SUBMIT COMMENTS, THE BEP BOARD WILL BE FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON THE COMMENTS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
The deadline to submit comments is by 5pm on Monday, August 28th. PLEASE ACT NOW!!
As always, please do not hesitate to contact
Brian or
Tim if you have any questions.
