WH Fact Sheet: Vice President Harris Announces Actions to Accelerate Clean Transit Buses, School Buses, and Trucks
Today, Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing major federal actions that will expand clean public transit and school buses, reduce emissions from dirty diesel trucks, and create good-paying jobs. The Biden-Harris Administration will modernize public transit that connects people to their jobs, school, health care, and loved ones, freight trucks and ports that move goods through the American economy, and the iconic American yellow buses that bring children safely to school leveraging investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan investments, as well as a new proposed rule that would set heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards. Together, these actions will deliver better transportation for the American people while reducing air pollution that has long overburdened low-income communities and communities of color. They also boost American leadership on the zero-emissions transit, trucking, and port technologies of the future—to create good-paying, union jobs, improve public health, and confront climate change.
Heavy-duty vehicles, like buses and trucks, make up nearly one-quarter of all U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions, and heavy-duty vehicles are the largest contributor of nitrogen oxides (NOx)—air pollution that is known to cause asthma, heart and lung disease, and other serious respiratory issues. Neighborhoods near highways, ports, and other congested areas are especially impacted by health problems and premature deaths associated with dirty diesel exhaust. These burdens disproportionately impact people of color and low-income households.
Efforts cited in fact sheet:
Ports -- DOT Port Infrastructure Development Program
Transit -- DOT Low- and No-Emission Transit Vehicle Program and EPA clean school bus deployment
Trucks --
EPA proposed rule to reduce NOx emissions from new trucks by up to 90% by 2031 compared to today’s standards.
EPA and DOT to use Heavy-Duty GHG Phase 3 Program to set ambitious greenhouse gas and efficiency standards beginning in 2030.
DOT and DOE -- Zero Emission Truck technology development and deployment
GSA deployment of medium and heavy duty zero emissions vehicles
WH Fact Sheet:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/07/fact-sheet-vice-president-harris-announces-actions-to-accelerate-clean-transit-buses-school-buses-and-trucks/
DOE Projects Zero Emissions Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks Will Be Cheaper than Diesel-Powered Trucks by 2035
https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-projects-zero-emissions-medium-and-heavy-duty-electric-trucks-will-be-cheaper-diesel
DOT Announces Nearly $1.5 Billion in Grants Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Modernize Bus Fleets and Facilities
https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-and-us-department-transportation-announce-nearly-15
EPA Awards Rebates Totaling $17 Million to Fund Clean School Buses that Reduce Diesel Emissions and Protect Children’s Health: First American Rescue Plan Funds to Reach School Districts to Help Them Buy Electric School Buses
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-rebates-totaling-17-million-fund-clean-school-buses-reduce-diesel-emissions