In a recent development, three leading associations, NATSO, SIGMA, and NACS, have come together to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise its proposed greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty trucks. These organizations represent America&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWhDbG5FYmJSRUl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrZUdWdmNUbFhURzlWZUdwV1ppdG5iV2RvZWxSMFp6MDk-8217;s travel centers, truck stops, and fuel marketers, and they advocate for a market-oriented and technology-neutral approach to transportation decarbonization.
Instead of relying solely on electrification as a means to reduce emissions, the organizations argue for the adoption of existing lower carbon options, such as renewable diesel and biodiesel. They highlight the practical and logistical challenges associated with electrifying trucks and emphasize the need for a diversified approach that does not compromise the market&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWhDbG5FYmJSRUl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrZUdWdmNUbFhURzlWZUdwV1ppdG5iV2RvZWxSMFp6MDk-8217;s ability to gravitate towards electrification when it becomes commercially viable and practical at scale.
The organizations believe that with the right alignment of policy incentives, transportation energy providers can facilitate a faster and more cost-effective transition to petroleum alternatives. They acknowledge the importance of electric vehicle technologies but express concerns about the current state of heavy-duty electric vehicle charging technology. They argue that the proposed electrification timeline may be unachievable given the limitations of charging infrastructure.
Renewable diesel and biodiesel are seen as the best opportunities for reducing carbon emissions from the commercial trucking sector in the foreseeable future. These alternative fuels have already demonstrated significant emissions savings compared to petroleum-based diesel. The organizations emphasize the need for sensible tailpipe emissions standards and strong incentives for renewable liquid fuels to encourage investments in scalable technologies that can reduce the carbon footprint of fuels currently in use.
Moreover, the organizations stress the importance of policies that consider lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and account for the carbon intensity of various technologies. They argue that a comprehensive approach that incorporates multiple decarbonization technologies will foster continued investment and innovation across the sector.
One of the concerns raised by fuel retailers is the charging capacity required to support electric trucks. They cite a recent study showing that the charging capacity at a single large truck stop would be equivalent to the electric load of a small town. Given the significant infrastructure and logistical requirements, they express skepticism about electricity providers&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWhDbG5FYmJSRUl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrZUdWdmNUbFhURzlWZUdwV1ppdG5iV2RvZWxSMFp6MDk-8217; ability to scale up generation and transmission within the proposed timeline.
Fuel retailers have been actively involved in reducing the carbon footprint of ground transportation for over a decade by providing biofuels. Biofuels, including renewable diesel and biodiesel, have proven to be effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The organizations call for an increase in the blending mandate for these fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard and urge Congress to eliminate preferential treatment for sustainable aviation fuel, which uses similar feedstocks but produces fewer emissions savings.
In conclusion, the collaboration between NATSO, SIGMA, and NACS highlights the importance of a technology-neutral approach to greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty trucks. By leveraging existing lower carbon options and incentivizing renewable liquid fuels, the organizations believe that the trucking sector can achieve significant emissions reductions without compromising the market&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWhDbG5FYmJSRUl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrZUdWdmNUbFhURzlWZUdwV1ppdG5iV2RvZWxSMFp6MDk-8217;s transition towards electrification. They also emphasize the need for policies that consider lifecycle emissions and foster investment in multiple decarbonization technologies. With these measures, the organizations hope to work with the EPA to develop feasible and practicable standards for a more sustainable transportation sector.
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&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWhDbG5FYmJSRUl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrZUdWdmNUbFhURzlWZUdwV1ppdG5iV2RvZWxSMFp6MDk-8211; NATSO, SIGMA, and NACS Urge EPA to Adopt Technology-Neutral Approach to Greenhouse Gas Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks (PR Newswire)
&https://adarima.org/?aHR0cHM6Ly9tY3J5cHRvLmNsdWIvY2F0ZWdvcnJ5Lz93cHNhZmVsaW5rPWhDbG5FYmJSRUl3QXBic0NhZGZFZUZsZ2lIbmlrZUdWdmNUbFhURzlWZUdwV1ppdG5iV2RvZWxSMFp6MDk-8211; NATSO, Inc. (source)
Cision (image source): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natso-sigma-nacs-urge-epa-to-adopt-technology-neutral-approach-to-greenhouse-gas-standards-for-heavy-duty-trucks-301853581.html
