Two legislative measures supported by California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (CNGVC) have successfully cleared their policy committee hearings and are now headed for fiscal review. Each measure independently promotes increased reductions of harmful emissions to further the state’s air quality and decarbonization goals.
AB 2797 by Assembly Member Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) incentives the increased production of very low to net negative carbon fuels into the California transportation marketplace. This bi-partisan-authored bill will help California reach its 2045 carbon neutrality goal sooner. Given the state’s climate emergency, additional policy tools are needed today to help drive deep decarbonization of fuels. Low carbon fuels like renewable natural gas and renewable propane are the most cost-effective means for the state to immediately decrease greenhouse gases, reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants and generally improve air quality for all.
The bill enjoys broad support from climate change advocates, fleet representatives, environmental groups and business interests, including: the Coalition for Clean Air, Environmental Justice League, Bioenergy Association of California, California Waste Haulers Council, California Chamber of Commerce, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas and the Western Propane Gas Association. The measure was overwhelmingly approved by both the Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee (9-1 vote count) and the Assembly Transportation Committee (13-1 vote count).
The other measure – AB 2836 (Eduardo Garcia – D, Coachella) – extends the expiration date for the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program to January 1, 2033. It accomplishes this by extending the various fees that support the program, which include a surcharge on motor vehicle registration fees and a new tire purchase fee. However, it makes no programmatic changes. Absent this extension, the Program would expire at the end of 2023.
Expanding the deadline by 10 years will ensure the continued success of the Moyer Program in deploying more low-carbon trucks on our roads, which is especially advantageous for the heaviest polluted areas of the state. Further, recent changes by the California Air Resources Board to the Moyer Program’s guidelines coupled with last year’s infusion of $45 million to support greater deployment of low NOx trucks makes this bill even more impactful in displacing older diesel trucks to achieve more immediate reductions.
Similar to AB 2792, this bill has a long list of supporters that includes its four co-sponsors – South Coast Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. It too was approved with overwhelming support by both the Assembly Transportation Committee and the Assembly Natural Resources Committee (12-0 and 9-0 respectively).
The bills now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for review and consideration of their fiscal impact to the state’s budget. You can continue to follow and potentially support the two measure through the links provided above.