New York and the nation could face poorer air quality because of rollbacks on vehicle emission standards.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill ending waivers for other states and the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt California’s emission standards. The rollback comes as the American Lung Association’s new “State of the Air” report found New York counties received mixed air quality rankings.
Laura Kate Bender, assistant vice president of nationwide healthy air for the American Lung Association, said zero-emission vehicles are critical for improving air quality and health.
“The emissions that come from a tailpipe are directly harmful to people’s health,” Bender pointed out. “Whether it’s a gas-powered car or a diesel truck, or an off-road vehicle, people are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution that are being driven by some of those emissions.”
New York faces a similar state-level action, with some lawmakers attempting to end the state’s Advanced Clean Truck Standards, which prohibit heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses from idling for more than five minutes at a time. Reports show implementing the truck standards can generate around $3 billion in public health benefits.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back numerous air quality regulations. The Senate voted to overturn a rule limiting seven of the most hazardous air pollutants emitted by heavy industry.
Bender noted people have options to reduce the emissions they create.
“They can choose to carpool, they can take public transit, they can walk, or bike if they have the option,” Bender outlined. “But all of those choices need to happen with strong policies in place, policies that get our vehicles to be cleaner and cleaner, and that encourage those clean transportation choices.”
Beyond emission standards, Congressional lawmakers want to impose a $250 yearly fee on electric vehicle owners, which they said it would help fund the Highway Trust Fund since EV owners do not have to pay part of the Federal Gas Tax. Consumer Reports found the fee is more than double what high gasoline users pay in fuel taxes, and triple what the average new gas car driver pays.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.