November 19, 2007
The Port of Long Beach joined the Port of Los Angeles Nov. 5 in approving a measure to scrap and replace or retrofit the oldest, dirtiest trucks serving the ports (see CalNGV News, 11.5.07).
The measure, a centerpiece of the San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), is expected to reduce truck-related air pollution by 80 percent over the next five years. A progressive phase-out bans pre-1989 trucks starting in October 2008; by January 2012, only trucks that meet 2007 emission standards will be allowed to serve the port. The measure does not apply to on-road trucks that do not have separate tractors and trailers (“dedicated use vehicles”).
An estimated 16,500 trucks will be affected. Of those, about 9,000 could be eligible for retrofits; the rest will have to be replaced.
“Adoption of the truck rule is significant,” says Coalition President Mike Eaves. “Both ports have decided that they are going to get rid of the old trucks. But the implementation issues still exist.”
The most significant issues for the NGV industry are how much public funding will be available for scrappage, retrofits, and replacement, and what implementation policies will support alternative fuel trucks. All these details still need to be worked out, says Greg Roche, director of business development for Clean Energy.
“I feel good that there’s a lot of support for what we’re trying to do,” says Roche; he’ll continue to educate decision makers on the need for and benefits of alternative fuels. “[Implementation] is just unknown at this point. For every-body’s sake, I hope they can push forward and remove the uncertainty.”
Courtesy of NGVC, www.ngvc.org.