We wanted to provide an update on an issue that we have been working on closely for the past several months. As you may know, UCANE, one of the initial stakeholders in a coalition that has now grown to almost 40 associations, has been working to delay the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) rules in Massachusetts. These two rules, once implemented, could significantly limit the availability of medium and heavy-duty trucks UCANE members rely on.
That said, on Friday the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced that it was delaying the implementation of the HDO rule, which requires even stricter engine controls for NOX that exist today, until January 1, 2026. While the MassDEP has not decided to delay the ACT rule yet, it did create a limited exemption for snowplows and streets sweepers purchased by government agencies from this rule. For the time being, the ACT rule, which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of electric MHD trucks over time, is still slated for implementation on January 1, 2025.
While UCANE appreciates MassDEP’s step in the right direction, we will continue to advocate for a delay in the ACT or some other relief that allows our members to buy the MHD trucks needed to complete jobs. For your review, below we have included the MassDEP’s recent announcement. We have also included a letter that UCANE and our other coalition members submitted earlier this week after the States of Oregon and New York undertook similar measures.
More information about our next steps will be coming in the following days and weeks. Progress sometimes takes a little more time, but we are confident that we are moving in the right direction. Two months ago, no one was talking about delaying any rules within the Commonwealth. Today, we are aligned with more than 40 other associations bringing regulatory change for end-users. It is my hope we continue to make progress on this issue in the future.
While we are happy the administration has decided to delay implementation of the HDO rule from January 2025 to January 2026, The response to this delay clearly shows what a contentious issue this is requiring our continued attention going forward.
This article from the Franklin Observer (link below) illustrates two very different responses to Friday’s decision.
https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/276606/what-truck
MassDEP HDO ACT Letter to Stakeholders_October 2024.pdf
MassDEP ACT Enforcement Discretion 10 18 24.pdf
October 16 Gov Healey letter (003).pdf
