Xiarhos urges delayed implementation of Advanced Clean Truck and Heavy Duty Omnibus rules

September 18, 2024

This week, I joined a bipartisan group of legislators in signing a letter to Governor Healey and Secretary Tepper, urging a two-year delay in the implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck and Heavy Duty Omnibus rules. These rules will essentially phase-out diesel trucks in Massachusetts, starting in January.

I’ve heard from many concerned constituents and organizations across our district and beyond about the lack of adequate charging infrastructure, the high costs and limited availability of equipment, and the potential loss of sales tax revenue. These factors make the current timeline – however well-intentioned – unrealistic and unattainable.

We are advocating for the regulations to be pushed back to January 1, 2027. While we all recognize the importance of reducing emissions, the necessary technology and infrastructure to support these changes are not yet fully in place, and these regulations would have a profoundly damaging effect on our Commonwealth if implemented prematurely.