Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A truckers' group says New York State isn't ready to put its new zero emission policy in place. The new rules are to take effect in 2025, but the group is asking for a two-year delay in implementation.
Kendra Hems of the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) says her group is not opposed to the goal to shift towards zero emission and near zero emission technologies, but New York's rule is "incredibly aggressive," and there is no supporting infrastructure in place.
"It's a situation where it's not about not wanting to comply with it. It's more about they cannot comply with it. As it relates to the sales mandate, we have no charging infrastructure in New York State to support the use of electric vehicles," said Hems in an interview with WBEN.
Hems expressed concerns when the rule was proposed in 2021 regarding the aggressiveness of the timeline.
"Here we are in October of 2024, and we've not seen the state put any medium, heavy duty charging infrastructure in place. We are no further along today than we were in 2021 when they were adopting the rule," Hems claimed.
She says the sales mandate requires dealers to be able to continue to sell an internal combustion engine, they must sell a certain percentage of electric vehicles.
"Companies are not going to make the investment in these vehicles that they can't use them. So it's going to leave our dealerships in a position where they're just not going to be able to sell trucks. And that impacts them, and it also impacts our fleets that are trying to invest in new equipment for their businesses," Hems added.
Hems is asking the state for a two-year delay.
"Let's just take a moment have a hard look at what is it that we need to do in order to support the industry," she explained.
Hems has an ally in this fight in State Sen. George Borrello.
"We do not have the capacity, and because these trucking dealers are now going to have to essentially buy electric trucks that nobody wants, and it will limit their ability to get traditional gas and diesel trucks. It's going to create a severe shortage for even things critical, things like snow plows and trucks that transport agricultural products," said Borrello with WBEN.
Borrello warns the new rules are going to be devastating for New York's economy, particularly when it comes to basics like being able to plow streets and deliver food, especially during the winter.
Borrello believes the rule should be suspended indefinitely.
"Until they can tell us when the infrastructure will be in place, until they can tell us what the actual plan is to ensure that we're going to have the technology in place to make sure that trucks can be reliably charged quickly, to be able to do things like plow snow during an emergency," he said.
Borrello says the rules are not mandated by legislation.
"This is just their way of trying to meet the crazy mandates. So this could be undone immediately either by the governor or by the interim acting commissioner of DEC so this is something that could very easily be suspended without having to go back to legislature for any kind of change in law or policy," Borrello noted.
He adds that any negative impact would be on Gov. Kathy Hochul's hands.
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