It’s no secret that California leads the nation in implementing new regulations. Due to its sheer size, rules written by the Golden State tend to be adopted by other states and even influence federal rulemaking.
This is especially true in the area of environmental and fuel regulatory standards. Currently, California has some of the most stringent rules in place where vehicle emissions are concerned. This is why industry experts across the country are watching what California does with baited breath.
A New Executive Order
Governor Jerry Brown recently signed an executive order directing state agencies to craft an “integrated action plan” by next summer. The mandate requests that agencies set “clear targets to improve freight efficiency, transition to zero-emission technologies and increase competitiveness of California’s freight system.”
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Otherwise known as the California Sustainable Freight Strategy, the action plan aims to identify policies, programs and investments that will help California achieve its sustainability targets.
In the end, the final plan will be contributed to by several existing agency strategies. These will include the California Freight Mobility Plan, The Sustainable Freight Pathways, and Zero Emissions Discussion Plans.
A Method to the Madness
It should be a surprise to very few that California ranks as the eighth-largest economy in the world. It’s no wonder then that Governor Brown made his freight views quite clear in his recent announcement. After all, freight efficiency and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive principles.
In his statement, Brown noted that the freight transportation system accounts for a full third of the state’s economy and jobs. Considering freight-dependent industries accounted for over $700 billion in revenue in 2013, there may be some merit to his words.
The fact is, significant investments in infrastructure and sustainability are necessary to ensure California remains a competitive state, and Governor Brown knows this. He went on to say that “the policies and investments of state transportation and environmental agencies can influence California’s freight system to become more efficient, competitive, and environmentally sustainable.”
A Pathway to Success
In order to ensure that progress is made towards reaching the goal of a sustainable freight system, Brown ordered state agencies to make progress on instituting “corridor-level freight pilot projects within the state’s primary trade corridors that integrate advanced technologies, alternative fuels, freight and fuel infrastructure, and local economic development opportunities.
This new executive order comes on the heels of one Brown issued in April that aims to ensure California’s greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 40 percent by 2030. This appears to be one of the most aggressive benchmarks enacted by any government in North America so far to date. According to the Governor’s office, their goal is to reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
Noted in its language, the Sustainable Freight Pathways to Zero and Near-Zero Emissions Discussion Document states that the Governor’s executive order is sort of a blueprint for what future regulations may be enacted.
As the California Air Resources Board explains it, the Pathways document presents a clear vision of a clean freight system. It also outlines immediate steps that can be undertaken to support zero and near-zero emission technology.
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An Industry’s Take
According to Brian Kelly, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, “If we want to effectively protect the environment and simultaneously make the movement of goods easier, while expanding economic competitiveness, we must have one integrated freight strategy.”
Yet the industry remains decidedly measured on the topic. The California Trucking Associations’ reaction was quit neutral. According to them, this proclamation “demonstrates the important of California’s freight transportation system to the state’s economy.”
They were quick to caution, however, that “as the state contemplates more costly new emissions targets, it must consider the economic impact to the trucking industry.”
The fact is, California truckers already spend a hefty chunk of change to meet California’s current standards. How new regulations are set to affect trucking remains to be seen.