BILL NUMBER: S8670
SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
enacting the "dollars for diesels act" relating to financial incentives
for the retirement of certain heavy- and medium-duty vehicles
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Sets short title of "Dollars for Diesels Act"
Section 2. Establishes a retirement incentive program for heavy and
medium-duty vehicles model year 2010 or older to be replaced by model
year 2024 or newer.
Section 3. Establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In order to meet state climate goals, NYS adopted California's Advanced
Clean Truck (ACT) regulation, which mandates that manufacturers of medi-
um- and heavy- duty vehicles (M/HDVs) sell an increasing percentage of
zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) each year. However, there are significant
barriers to making this transition. There is currently no charging
infrastructure in place for such vehicles, upfront costs of M/HD ZEVs
are significantly higher than their diesel counterparts, the range for
commercial M/HD ZEVs are significantly lower, and the added strain M/HD
ZEVs would add to the electric grid would be unsustainable.
According to data from the NYS DMV, a third of M/HDVs registered in NY
are Model Year (MY) 2010 or earlier. These older vehicles have signif-
icantly less strict emissions standards and emit more pollutants than
newer models, particularly Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Particulate Matter
(PM) emissions. Newer models have much higher emissions standards and
emit far less pollutants. This legislation would establish a program to
incentivize the retirement of pre-2010 M/HDVs and replace them with new
models. Retiring and replacing older models would have a meaningful
impact on reducing emissions in the transportation sector.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.