Colorado Adopts Protective New Standards for Zero-Emission Trucks

(DENVER, CO) The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted unanimously to adopt the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus Rule today, accelerating the growing zero-emission freight truck and bus market and paving the way for cleaner air and reduced climate pollution in the state.

“Today’s action is a breath of fresh air for all Coloradans and shows that zero-emitting trucks and buses are ready for work in the Rocky Mountains and states all across the country. The Advanced Clean Trucks Rule and Heavy-Duty Omnibus Rule will deliver vital pollution reductions in communities across the state, help to safeguard the climate and accelerate solutions that can strengthen the economy by saving truckers and fleets money.”

• Larissa Koehler, Director, Vehicle Electrification & Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund

The Advanced Clean Trucks rule requires truck manufacturers to produce and sell certain percentages of new zero-emission trucks and buses beginning with model year 2027. The rule will accelerate the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks throughout the state and significantly reduce health-harming, climate-warming pollution.

The Heavy-Duty Omnibus Rule will reduce harmful pollution of nitrogen oxides from new fossil-fueled trucks and buses by 90% starting in model-year 2027. This damaging pollution has significant impacts on Coloradans’ health, especially in communities of color and low-income communities that experience heavy burdens from these traffic-related emissions.

Importantly, these rules come at a time when state officials have indicated that Colorado is off track from its climate targets. Together, these standards will help Colorado achieve its climate targets, and advance the state’s overarching goal of a 100% zero-emission vehicle transportation sector by 2050. However, a suite of complementary policies, including additional enforceable regulations by the AQCC, are needed for Colorado to maximize greenhouse reductions. 

Colorado’s action comes in the wake of historic congressional investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, including a $40,000 tax credit for clean commercial vehicles, which have turbocharged EV manufacturing investments and job growth in the U.S.  A recent EDF analysis with WSP found that in the last 8 years, manufacturers have invested more than $120 billion in U.S. EV manufacturing, creating more than 143,000 jobs. More than 40% of those announcements happened in the last six months since Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act. Colorado has seen growing investments in vehicle and battery manufacturing in the last few years that have bolstered its economy. In addition, Colorado also has several programs in place designed to facilitate the transition to zero-emission vehicles, including the Clean Transit Enterprise, the Clean Fleet Enterprise and tax credits for zero-emission trucks.

By adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, Colorado joins seven other states that have approved the same policy, including California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.