California legislators have introduced a series of new bills that would fund heavy-duty truck incentives and other low-carbon transportation projects, further reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, and increase the production of renewable gas, among other initiatives to help the state meet its long-term emissions targets.
The most significant bill for Coalition members is likely to be the California Clean Truck, Bus, and Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Technology Program (AB 2415), authored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), which calls for truck incentives for heavy-duty fleets from 2018 to 2023. The bill requires the state to support the commercial deployment of existing zero- and near-zero-emission heavy-duty truck technologies by spending whichever is greater: $100 million or half of the funds allocated each year for the development of zero- and near-zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty truck technologies.
Several other bills filed by the Feb. 19 deadline also aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicular air pollution.
SB 1383, authored by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), addresses short-lived climate pollutants. It requires CARB to implement a strategy to reduce methane emissions 40 percent, hydrofluorocarbon gases 40 percent, and anthropogenic black carbon 50 percent below 2013 levels by 2030.
AB 1555, authored by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), appropriates
$1.7 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for fiscal year 2015–16 to fund low-carbon transportation and infrastructure; clean-energy communities; and community climate improvements, wetland and watershed restoration, and carbon sequestration. Future legislation would determine how to distribute the money among different agencies.
Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) introduced four bills to continue the fight against climate change. SB 1402 is a low-carbon fuels act that directs money from the GGRF toward the in-state production of low-carbon alternative fuels using sustainable feedstocks. SB 1430 requires CARB to regulate tailpipe emissions if proposed federal standards on fuel economy and GHG emissions are weaker than the state’s standards.
Pavley is also calling for technical, nonsubstantive changes to the CEC’s alternative fuels plan (SB 1405) and to the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (SB 1425); the proposed changes have yet to be defined.
Finally, SB 1043, authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), requires CARB to increase the sustainable production and use of RNG, ensuring that it provides direct benefits to the environment.
The Coalition will track the progress of all these bills. Committee hearings are the first hurdle, and the next major milestone is June 3, when each house of the Legislature must decide which new bills to pass on to the other house.