� STATES AIR SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT ACT RULE
The states that adopted California’ s Advanced Clean Truck( ACT) Rule are beginning to hit the pause button, reports The Fuel Line, the newsletter of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association.“ Both Maryland and Massachusetts are delaying enforcement, and here in Vermont, legislation that calls for a pause is picking up support in Montpelier,” according to the April 18 issue of The Fuel Line, which is produced by Matt Cota for the VFDA. The California rule requires manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of medium and heavy-duty vehicles that have zero emissions, the newsletter notes, and“ failure to sell electric trucks means that Vermonters can’ t get access to new diesel trucks.”
Testimony in April by Julie Moore, Secretary for Vermont’ s Agency of Natural Resources, showed that in order to meet Vermont’ s climate mandates, electric truck registrations must grow by 240 % every year for the next five years, The Fuel Line pointed out, adding,“ Keep in mind, there are only 32 medium and heavy-duty electric trucks in the entire state, and they’ re not capable of hauling timber, fuel, or milk, let alone plowing snow or repairing roads. They are also 2.5 times more expensive.”
In a letter dated April 10, a coalition of trade associations asked lawmakers to delay enforcement of the ACT Rule“ so they can keep working,” The Fuel Line reported. The VFDA was among the signees. Others signees include: Associated Builders and Contractors NH / VT; Associated General Contractors of Vermont; Heating and Cooling Contractors of Vermont; National Federation of Independent Business – Vermont; Vermont Chamber of Commerce; Vermont Truck and Bus Association; Vermont Vehicle and Automotive Distributors Association. Here is the text of the letter:
On behalf of fifteen trade associations that represent Vermonters who buy, sell, and depend on medium and heavy-duty trucks, we respectfully request your support in delaying the implementation of the Vermont Advanced Clean Trucks( ACT) Regulation. Although we support the state’ s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the current regulatory timeline is premature due to significant limitations in zero-emission truck technology, insufficient infrastructure, and the high costs of these vehicles. Without corrective action, the regulation will restrict access to the vehicles that are essential for Vermont’ s economy.
Medium and heavy-duty vehicles are indispensable to nearly every sector of Vermont’ s economy and public services. These trucks are tools that deliver food, fuel, and essential goods, maintain public infrastructure, plow our roads, and support emergency services, local manufacturing, and tourism. They are vital to the success of our agricultural and forestry economies, as well as manufacturing, construction, and utility operations. There is no viable zero-emission substitute capable of meeting the performance and logistical demands placed on diesel-powered trucks— especially in Vermont’ s rural and mountainous terrain. Even if electric trucks were affordable and available— which they are not— they remain the wrong tool for many applications in Vermont’ s rural economy.
Vermont businesses that depend on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are not ordering electric vehicles because they are incapable of replacing their diesel fleet. The consequences of enacting the regulations before the technology is available and affordable means diesel truck sales are now artificially contracting. The ACT rules have effectively limited manufacturers to a shrinking pool of diesel allocations. This impacts more than just local businesses. Towns need diesel trucks to maintain Vermont’ s highways and plow our roads. The state of Massachusetts has recognized this by exempting“ street sweepers and snow plow trucks” purchased by municipalities. Vermont has no such exemption.
As discussed in testimony before the House Transportation Committee, Vermont businesses that require diesel powertrains can escape these restrictions by opening a satellite facility in a non-ACT state, such as New Hampshire, in order to purchase medium and heavy-duty trucks. This has troubling fiscal implications. In 2024 alone, medium and heavy-duty truck registrations generated an estimated $ 15.4 million in purchase-and-use tax revenue and associated fees for Vermont’ s education and transportation funds. Losing these taxes and fees to New Hampshire would directly reduce funding for core state functions here in Vermont.
Early evidence from Massachusetts and New York— both of which implemented ACT a year earlier— shows that the regulation is contributing to a slowdown in truck sales. Vermont is now on the same path, risking both economic disruption and environmental backsliding. If newer, cleaner diesel trucks are unavailable, fleet owners are more likely to retain older, higher-emitting models longer. Diesel remains the industry standard because it uniquely combines high power density, energy efficiency, durability, long-range, heavy payload capacity, and reliable servicing networks. This is why 97 % of Class 8 trucks in operation are powered by diesel engines.
New diesel vehicles are markedly cleaner than older models. Since 1988, emissions of nitrogen oxides( NOx) and particulate matter( PM) have fallen by 99 % due to advances in ultra-low sulfur diesel( ULSD), diesel particulate filters( DPFs), and selective catalytic reduction( SCR) systems. Fuel efficiency improvements have also reduced CO₂ emissions by more than 40 % since 2010. These technological
12 MAY 2025 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www. fueloilnews. com