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Hello, and welcome to MCAT's first Action Alert of 2025!
Like many of you, we were stunned and have been grieving and in restorative mode after the November election national results. We do hope that you have found ways to nurture and energize yourself, because, while things look grim at the national level there is PLENTY we can do to shape Oregon's positive trajectory in environmental and climate action work.
We really look forward to working with you during this just-begun long legislative session and beyond - you are the best kind of family and we appreciate you!
Here's the skinny on quick action work needed right now:
What is happening, and what is the Advanced Clean Truck Rule (ACT)?
The long and short of this email is that Oregon's clean air and clean tech sector are under attack in a hearing coming up at 8:00AM this Thursday, January 30. The Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) program is under attack in a multistate coordinated pushback to weaken state standards in a time of federal rollbacks on clean air and climate action. The ACT requires truck manufacturers to sell increasing amounts of zero-emission (mostly electric) trucks but NEVER bans diesel truck sales. 12 other states have adopted the ACT, representing about 30% of all truck sales. In 2025, most manufacturers are already compliant with the ACT in 2025. Read Oregon's ACT
Why does it matter?
Medium and Heavy Duty (MHD) trucks represent about 11.5% of the state's vehicle population. Despite this, MHD trucks have a significant impact on emissions. They are responsible for approximately 42% of greenhouse gas emissions from Oregon's on-road vehicles. Additionally, these trucks contribute to 70% of nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions and 64% of particulate matter (PM₂.₅) emissions, both of which hurt human health and increase lifetime risk. The Advanced Clean Truck rule, designed to support transitioning to cleaner vehicles, is a critical component of meeting our climate and public health goals in Oregon.
Help Needed NOW:
HB 3119 is being heard this Thursday at 8 AM in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. HB 3119 would delay the ACT by two years. Don't look any further than what proponents of HB 3119 have said already: delaying the ACT is setting the stage to kill the ACT program. This effort is part of a multistate coordinated effort to roll back clean air protections in a moment we cannot rely on a federal backstop. This is especially problematic as DEQ has already initiated rulemaking to address some of the issues being raised, and the vast majority of manufacturers are ALREADY compliant with the ACT in 2025 based on early action sales. The market is demanding MHD ZEV trucks and proponents of this bill want to unfairly take away choice. OCN has already listed HB 3119 as a bill of concern, and they are in active conversation about further listing the bill as a major threat while trying to be conscious of political considerations. For more detail see the Union of Concerned Scientists testimony.
OLCV & OCN are asking MCAT for help. We need a BIG turnout.
What can you do? In order of impact:
- Testify in person (preferably) or virtually (details below in the engagement guide)
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If you plan to testify, please add your name to this google sheet to coordinate
- We encourage you to wear green!
- Submit Written Testimony (details below in the engagement guide)
- Some of the bill sponsors are Democrats. We need constituents to write them directly and urge a No vote. See List Below....
How to engage:
If you are a constituent of
Communications Guidance:
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