Dear Chair Randolph,

As clean air advocates across the state of California, we write to urge you to approve this life-changing regulation – Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF). The transportation sector is the major source of air pollution in California. This rule will provide the much-needed reductions for a healthy, livable community for all.

Over 90 percent of Californians continue to breathe unhealthy air. The American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2022 report found that California is home to eight of the ten most particle-polluted (soot) cities in the United States, and six of the most impacted by ozone (“smog”). Air pollution can cause negative health impacts such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, and lung and cardiovascular diseases. This is especially true for communities of color – the report also noted that a person of color in the United States is 61 percent more likely to live in a community with a failing air pollution grade and over 3 times more likely to live in a community with the worst air quality.

We need to set the following zero-emissions fleet standards to experience the real-world emission reductions needed to breathe cleaner air. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff have analyzed a stronger zero-emission fleet standard that could save more than 8,000 lives due to cleaner air. CARB should pursue a final standard with stronger provisions to expand the health benefits of the rule, including:

• Setting a 100 percent requirement for zero-emission medium and heavy-duty trucks by 2036; and 
• Applying the standards to fleets with 10 or more vehicles to ensure a more comprehensive transition to zero-emission technologies.

Because Californians breathe the worst air quality in the nation, we need to lead in the transition to zero-emission trucks for cleaner air to meet health-protective air quality standards. The early adoption of zero-emission technology will reduce emissions and provide critical health benefits. The Lung Association’s Zeroing on Healthy Air report found that California has the most to gain in the nation from a transition to non-combustion electricity and zero-emission vehicles. From 2020 to 2050, California could gain $169 billion in public health benefits and 15,300 lives saved due to the air quality benefits of zero-emission technologies.

We need the California Air Resources Board to put our health first and lead by setting 100 percent zero-emission standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks. We urge you and Board members to approve the ACF rule. We thank you for all the work you do for California. Please contact Will Barrett at the American Lung Association with any questions at William.Barrett@lung.org.

Sincerely,