Summary of Governor Baker’s Letter on Emissions
April 28, 2021
Prepared by TOM RYAN, SENIOR ADVISOR ON POLICY, GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS | READ THE ORIGINAL LETTER HERE
Governor Baker joined a group of Governors writing to President Biden, requesting the federal government do a few specific things, including:
- Setting standards to ensure that all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold are zero-emission no later than 2035 with significant milestones along the way to monitor progress.
- Setting standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles and supporting complementary policies such as purchase incentives and infrastructure investments, that set a path towards 100% zero-emission sales by no later than 2045 with significant milestones along the way to monitor progress.
- Expeditiously restoring strong scientifically based greenhouse gas emission standards for all vehicle model years possible to replace the unsupported standards from the previous administration. This will recover all of the emission reductions and other important benefits that were lost during the past four years.
- Reaffirming that states have authority to follow vehicle emissions standards set by California, if they choose to do so.
- Providing states with substantial funding for investment in charging and fueling infrastructure, providing grants or other financial support for fleet turnover to ZEVs, providing underserved communities equitable access to ZEVs and charging and fueling infrastructure, and supporting ZEV marketing.
- Enhancing the existing electric vehicle tax credits by raising or removing the limits per manufacturer and extending tax credits to sales of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
- Ensuring that purchase incentives for ZEVs incorporate strategies targeting low-income buyers as well as expand incentives to used ZEVs focusing rebates at the point of sale.
- Enacting new tax credits for the manufacturing of zero-emission trucks and buses as well as ZEV charging and fueling stations.
- Working to repeal the statutory provision (23 USC § 111) that appears to prohibit the installation of zero-emission recharging/refueling stations along interstate rights of way, including rest areas.
- To meet the Commonwealth’s ambitious commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions in 2050 and reduce the harmful effects of air pollution, Massachusetts has made significant commitments to increase the number of ZEVs in our state. The clean car and truck standards are a critical tool that align with our investments in vehicle electrification, including over $60 million to support rebates for electric vehicle and truck adoption, and $80 million in charging infrastructure.
