IRVINE, CALIF. (Sept. 17, 2024) – Western Growers (WG) submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday, urging it to deny the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) request to fully implement its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which mandates the transition from diesel to zero-emission trucks and other vehicles.

In its comments, WG stressed the significant lack of lead time for developing and deploying the necessary technology, equipment and infrastructure, as well as the lack of consideration to the cost of compliance. The comments also highlighted that the existing exemptions and waivers lack clarity and fail to provide assurance to the producers tasked with this significant undertaking.

To move forward with the full ACF rollout, CARB must get a waiver of preemption from EPA under the federal Clean Air Act, which gives California unique leeway to set its own air emissions standards. The implications of a waiver would also go beyond California; several other states in the country have repeatedly moved to adopt California air standards, including Colorado and New Mexico. Therefore, the approval or denial of a waiver could dictate if and when other states could move forward with their own aggressive zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates.

Throughout the development of the ACF rules, WG and its allies have directly appealed to CARB for more reasonable changes, timelines and ag-unique considerations. The case must now be made to EPA that a waiver at this time is unjustified.

WG provided oral comments on this issue during a virtual public hearing last month. Additionally, WG co-led a joint coalition letter that similarly urges EPA to deny a waiver for the ACF regulations. The letter is signed by 47 state and national organizations representing a diverse swath of the farming and agri-food supply chains.

About Western Growers:

Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers’ members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. Connect and learn more about Western Growers on Twitter and Facebook.

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