Contact: Noah Barnes, Electrification Coalition
nbarnes@electrificationcoalition.org, (202) 461-2371
RALEIGH—On Tuesday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced a new executive order directing the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to begin the rulemaking process for the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which will gradually increase the availability of electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the state. The executive order also includes additional provisions to complement the rule and the expansion of electric transportation opportunities for the state. Those provisions address health and environmental justice concerns associated with transportation emissions and allow for the assessment of the state’s charging infrastructure needs.
In response, Electrification Coalition Executive Director Ben Prochazka released the following statement:
“Oil has had a monopoly on our transportation systems, across the country and in North Carolina, which puts our national and economic security at risk. Global oil markets are controlled by bad actors who manipulate price and supply. Using electricity, produced locally and diversely, to power our vehicles reduces emissions, bolsters the state’s economy, and keeps us safer.
“Governor Cooper’s action on Advanced Clean Trucks is vital. While medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up just six percent of vehicles registered in 2018, they were responsible for more than 26 percent of the U.S. transportation sector’s fuel consumption. Freight vehicles are a crucial part of the transition to electric transportation.
“According to a report by the International Council on Clean Transportation, by adopting the Advanced Clean Truck Rule, North Carolina will likely avoid 7.38 million metric tons of cumulative carbon pollution between 2020 and 2050, the equivalent emissions created from over 8 billion pounds of coal being burned.
“This move builds on global efforts to accelerate transportation electrification, including recent federal actions like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. North Carolina has the opportunity to be a leader in transportation electrification as a state rich in minerals and instrumental to the manufacturing of vehicles and charging stations. We applaud the governor for being forward-looking and supporting policies that create the pathways to the future of transportation.
“Through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, North Carolina is poised to receive significant funding and investment in transportation electrification, including recent awards for battery manufacturing. We are pleased that the state is taking the proper steps to do its part and maximize this historic opportunity.
“North Carolina is leading the charge on electric transportation, from minerals to markets.”
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About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition (EC) is a national advocacy organization accelerating transportation electrification to reduce the monopoly oil has on our transportation and the associated national security risks. The EC drives adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for consumers, freight, private sector fleets, and public sector fleets through policy advocacy and programs at the federal, state, and local levels. We work with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, from engaging with federal and state legislators on policy to collaborating with cities and businesses on electrifying buses and trucks, among many other activities. The EC is at the forefront of the urgent national shift to electric transportation. electrificationcoalition.org