Sometimes bipartisanship can work
Massachusetts Republicans have joined with Democrats to set an example in emissions control
By Mark Reburke: President, Drive Electric Cars New England
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker
With all the news recently surrounding the unprecedented global pandemic, important developments in Massachusetts transportation and emissions policy may not have received as much attention as they deserve. This culminated at the end of March when Republican Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed comprehensive climate change legislation codifying a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
This legislation, passed by the Democrat-controlled Massachusetts Legislature, was partly based on the MA Decarbonization Roadmap, released last December, calling for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by 2050.
This roadmap included a summary of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). signed by Governor Baker last July, committing the Commonwealth to work collaboratively with a coalition of states to reach 30% Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The MOU calls out medium and heavy-duty vehicles with a plan to adopt the California Advanced Clean Trucks Rules, requiring the following targets by 2035: 55% ZEV of Class 2b-3 trucks; 75% ZEV of Class 4-8 trucks; and 40% ZEV of truck tractors.
Putting the brake on regional pollution
Also in December, Massachusetts, along with Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C., announced the launch of a groundbreaking program that invests $300 million per year in cleaner transportation choices and healthier communities. The bipartisan, multistate Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P), will collect a fee from fuel distributors to re-invest in cleaner transportation initiatives, including electric vehicles (EVs), and will cut greenhouse gas pollution from motor vehicles in the region by an estimated 26% from 2022 to 2032. TCI-P will generate a total of more than $3 billion dollars over ten years for the participating jurisdictions to invest in equitable, less polluting transportation options and to help energize economic recovery.
The Baker Administration also publicly announced a requirement that all new light-duty vehicle sales be plug-in electric by 2035. Additionally, the Administration released an interim 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan that outlines a series of strategies and actions to accelerate the transition to EVs over the remainder of this decade.
More this spring
The Massachusetts ZEV Commission, working to support zero-emission vehicle adoption in Massachusetts, met again last month with key announcements.
As part of the state’s increased focus on medium and heavy-duty fleet BEVs, a MOR-EV trucks program was launched, similar to the existing MOR-EV program that provides rebates for light-duty consumer EVs. The state also committed to greater electrification of state fleets, as well as to free or low-cost fleet advisory services to be facilitated by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and separately, by National Grid. This last organization is one of the primary investor-owned utilities in the state.
Finally, the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program launched its first DC Fast Charging grant solicitation with an overwhelmingly large number of applications. Funding for Level 2 charging was also expanded and continues on a rolling basis. Both of these programs are funded by the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Mitigation Trust.
With all the recent developments in Massachusetts EV policy and incentives, the future is brighter than in any other state when it comes to encouraging the much-needed brisk acceleration of transportation electrification.