Washington, D.C. – In response to the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement of continued actions to deliver clean transit, school buses, trucks, and clean air to communities, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) issued the following statement from Senior Director of Government Affairs Matthew Davis:

“As international conflict drives up the price of oil, announcements and proposals like these that help end U.S. reliance on dangerous, dirty and unreliable fossil fuels are welcome news. The Biden-Harris administration’s continued actions to deliver clean transit, school buses and trucks are great news for children, families, workers, and the planet, but they must move even more swiftly. We look forward to the EPA strengthening their proposals for the final rule to deliver health-improving pollution reductions and electric trucks and buses faster. We eagerly await the further investments in electric trucks and school buses from President Biden’s infrastructure law and are counting on the Senate to enact the House-passed $555 billion investments in climate, clean energy and environmental justice into law.”

In response to specific announcements today, Matthew Davis offered the following thoughts:

• Proposal to reduce diesel truck pollution: “The EPA must push truck makers to move even more quickly to slash health-harming pollution by nearly 90 percent, in line with California’s standard in model year 2027, particularly to help low wealth communities and communities of color unfairly and disproportionately exposed to high levels of toxic truck pollution. EPA should also opt for stronger revisions to greenhouse gas standards that will transition more quickly to zero-emissions buses and short-range trucks. It’s high time for truck engine makers to stop the blockade against stronger standards and invest, as most automakers have, in the zero emission technology of the future.”
• Proposal to shift rapidly to emissions-free electric transit and school buses, and expand transit service: “These first steps are critical for accelerating the production and deployment of these clean, quiet electric buses, which can support good manufacturing jobs here in the U.S. We’re glad to see the administration supporting funding for the maintenance, operation, and electrification of transit agencies across the country.”
• Distribution of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and regular Appropriations for clean, electric buses: “For the 25 million students, and their parents and bus drivers, breathing diesel pollution on the way to and from school, the funding could not come quickly enough.”

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