Dear MEMA Members,

Environmental groups have petitioned the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) to adopt the California Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, requiring BEP to initiate the rulemaking process. The Public Hearing has been scheduled for August 17th at the Augusta Civic Center starting at 9am.

Adopting the CA ACT would set mandatory sales thresholds of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV’s) starting in 2027. Effectively, this adoption would put Maine on an accelerated path to electric medium and heavy-duty trucks regardless of operational realities.

MEMA has been actively involved in a coalition of industry stakeholders called the Mainers for Smart Energy Coalition (MFSE). This group is being led by MEMA, Maine Motor Transportation Association, the Maine Auto Dealers Association, Associated General Contractors of Maine, Maine Better Transportation Association, and the Maine Aggregate Association – but our members include countless other industry groups and Chambers of Commerce who all understand the downsides of adopting this policy too early. 

The MFSE coalition has over 15,000 businesses represented as of today.

MEMA and MFSE are not opposed to electric trucks. But we are expressing our concerns over what we see as flaws that can have serious (and avoidable) consequences for the supply chain and for Maine businesses, taxpayers, and citizens. The top three issues of concern:

• The Maine electrical grid’s ability to handle additional Medium & Heavy-Duty (MHD) Truck demand and the significant investments needed to ensure uninterrupted service;
• The significant investments needed to build out brand-new charging infrastructure for brand new (and unproven) MHD truck propulsion technology; and
• The much higher cost, reliability (range, cold weather climate, auxiliary power needed for certain applications, etc.) and availability of these new MHD electric trucks.

We know electric trucks are coming and we support voluntary adoption of technology innovations – but not mandates. 

MEMA is engaged in the Mainers for Smart Energy Coalition education and communication efforts. We will be submitting written and oral comments to the BEP. Members of MFSE have submitted an Op Ed to the Bangor Daily News and have also made an appearance on the WGAN morning radio program earlier this week – CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. 

The MFSE Coalition has a plan to do more of this type of communication, as well as implementing a social media strategy aimed at education

MFSE has created the Coalition’s Action Center where you can submit comments to the BEP, quickly and easily. Please take the time to do this, every additional person who takes action matters to

1. Make your voice heard by submitting comments HERE.
2. Consider attending the August 17th public hearing at the Augusta Civic Center starting at 9am. Even if you don’t plan to speak, having a good showing of people who don’t want to adopt California rules is important.
3. Share this email with people who will be impacted and encourage them to show up on the 17^th and submit comments.