New Vehicle Standards Critical for Clean Air and Climate

New Haven, CT — CTLCV enthusiastically supports Governor Lamont's proposed regulations for clean vehicle standards, marking a significant milestone in combating pollution and protecting public health.

These regulations aim to enforce stricter tailpipe emission standards and mandate a higher proportion of zero-emission vehicles for sale within the state: Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII), Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT), and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus regulations. 

Medium and Heavy Duty vehicles are defined as weighing over 7500 lbs, such as large trucks and buses. Light Duty vehicles weigh less, such as cars and pickup trucks.  
While the proposed regulations primarily focus on Medium and Heavy-Duty vehicles, they hold crucial significance for car dealers as well. In 2021, California updated their light-duty vehicle standards, so Connecticut has also put forward these standards to remain in sync with the stronger laws as required.
These regulations do not apply to consumers. Rather, they primarily address emissions standards and regulations for vehicles being manufactured and sold, ensuring cleaner and more sustainable transportation options for the future.

"The adoption of these standards is critical, and we commend the collaborative efforts between Connecticut and other states like California, Massachusetts, and New York, who have been implementing similar standards successfully for two decades. These standards have already been embraced by many states, showcasing the potential for nationwide progress.  Collaboration with other states is key to creating a unified market," said  CTLCV Executive Director, Lori Brown.
The proposed regulations will undergo a thirty-day public comment period before final approval by the Connecticut General Assembly's Regulations Review Committee.
“The legislation that our state lawmakers and the Lamont Administration put together last year to tackle climate change put us on a path to reduce tailpipe emissions from heavy duty vehicles like trucks and buses. The public comment phase on these proposed regulations will help everyone understand the responsibilities and public benefits that will come with these updated vehicle standards. We don’t need endless debate and more studies to know what a positive impact this will have on every community across Connecticut and the region.” said Brown.

​CTLCV is calling on all citizens and stakeholders to participate in the public comment period to express strong support for these vital clean vehicle standards.

Comments must be submitted no later than 5 pm on August 23, 2023, via theeRegulations System (PR2023-020).

MORE PLANS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS

• The Administration is currently directing its efforts to expand Electric Vehicle Infrastructure along major travel corridors, as well as assessing needs in rural areas outside of these corridors.
• Another important effort by the Administration to reduce emissions from the transportation sector is to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by 5%, which is an important new goal for CT’s Department of Transportation.
• The Administration wants to establish targets in other specific sub-sectors such as the building industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DEEP said they are now working on a Decarbonization Roadmap that will recommend additional actions the state can take to meet the goals of our Global Warming Solutions Act.

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