The Massachusetts Chapter of the Sierra Club is urging Boston-area residents to come out and voice their support for a first-ever increase of emissions standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks.  The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation announced a proposal calling for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption from heavy trucks and 7-10% reductions from other trucks between 2014-2018. The EPA and DOT are holding a hearing in Boston later this month to discuss this proposal; the trucking industry is expected to oppose the standards.

The vehicles covered by this announcement consume 20% of all on-road transportation fuel used each year, despite representing only 4% of all vehicles on the road.  Furthermore, unlike passenger vehicles, these large pickups, freight trucks and garbage trucks (for example), have never been subject to federal fuel efficiency or global warming tailpipe pollution standards.

While the EPA/DOT’s green-friendly proposal demonstrates improvement over existing standards, the Sierra Club, among other environmental groups, have expressed dissatisfaction with the standards, calling for even higher emissions reductions within a similar period of time. Specifically, asking for a 35% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from long haul tractors pulling van trailers by 2018.

In response to this announcement, the Sierra Club is urging citizens to come out, voice their opinion and support increased emission standards that cut greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. Please see below for specifics on how you can become directly involved!

For further information contact:

James McCaffrey or Gina Coplon-Newfield, or call 617-423-5775

Thursday November 18, 2010, 10am-5pm

Hyatt Regency Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA