Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed rule to reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. Although trucks make up less than 10 percent of vehicles on the road, they spew the majority of hazardous air pollutants, including 63% of NOx pollution.
In response, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, released the following statement:
While attending the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) Clean Transportation announcement today, Hip Hop Caucus let EPA Administrator Regan know that we are here to help push for stronger emissions standards that benefit Black, Brown and low-income communities that are harmed first and worst by pollution. These rules announced today will lead to cleaner trucks and cars on the roads if implemented fully. Of particular need is the heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) rule which addresses the trucks that make up only a tenth of all the vehicles on the road but are responsible for over quarter of all emissions from the transportation sector. Some estimates show that transitioning to zero-emission trucks could save nearly 67,000 lives and prevent premature deaths and chronic respiratory illnesses, particularly in low-income and redlined communities located near major trucking corridors. While this is just another first step for the Biden Administration, along with providing credits for affordable electric vehicles and providing equitable funding for transitioning to the green economy, it is a major step in the right direction. However, until these rules are finalized, Hip Hop Caucus will continue pushing against dirty vehicles and pushing for clean cars for all.
