White House pumps millions into cleaning up worst polluters on America’s roads

New standard set for heavy trucks will save roughly 2,000 lives every year, Biden administration says

Vice President Kamala Harris announces a measure to expand clean public transit and school buses, and reduce emissions from diesel trucks on March 7 (AFP via Getty Images)

The White House has announced new limits for the biggest polluters on America’s roads including heavy trucks and delivery vans while rolling out investment for more clean and climate-friendly fleets of public and school buses.

The roll-out is part of President Joe Biden’s plan to cut US carbon emissions in half, from 2005 levels, by 2030. Transportation accounts for the largest portion of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, at around 29 per cent.

The new actions includes a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would reduce harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from new trucks up to 90 per cent by 2031 over today’s levels. It will save roughly 2,000 lives every year, eliminate 18,000 cases of childhood asthma, and lead to 1.1 million fewer missed days of school, the Biden administration says.

Vice President Kamala Harris announced the package on Monday including $5.5 billion to shift the US to low or zero-emission transit buses with about $1.5bn made available this year.

“We’re making the largest ever investment in this programme for buses and bus facilities, helping to deliver better commutes and cleaner air to American communities,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who joined VP Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan at the White House event.

Some $17 million will be used to switch America’s iconic yellow school buses to all-electric or low-emission models, with $7m awarded to replace old diesel buses in underserved communities.

A number of public transport operations are moving towards an electric bus fleet. California, New York City and Boston have all announced they will have switched over to electric buses by 204, while Washington DC is aiming for 2045.

The program will also boost workforce training to “upskill” transit workers to keep these new vehicles running.

Ports will also be part of the pollution-cutting plan with a focus on reducing emissions from heavy-duty road vehicles and rail that serve operations along coasts, rivers, and on the Great Lakes.

The federal government will also double its own number of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle models for federal agencies, with the aim to be 100 per cent net-zero by 2035.