Environmental regulators are proposing rules that would offer truck manufacturers a pathway to meet Oregon鈥檚 medium- to heavy-duty zero emissions trucks guidelines 鈥� even if they don鈥檛 sell an electric truck.
Officials say this would give the trucking industry time to develop more zero emission heavy duty vehicles while still following Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek鈥檚 request to keep the rules.
Under the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality鈥檚 , the Oregon Optional Credit Program would provide credits to truck makers who continue to sell diesel trucks in 2025 and 2026. Those credits would offset penalties the truck makers might otherwise incur by failing to sell cleaner vehicles.
DEQ senior transportation policy advisor Gerick Kransky said the program would support an eventual transition to zero emissions vehicles.
鈥淭here have been sort of limits on availability of all vehicles, and this optional credit program is designed to ensure that there are credits available for manufacturers to sell all vehicle types starting now, and we think that will help get the manufacturers accustomed to engaging with the credits and deficits,鈥� he said.
Kransky said a requirement to participate in the program would be to agree to 鈥渘o sales restrictions鈥� of internal combustion vehicles.
That requirement comes after of its internal combustion engine vehicles in December after receiving incorrect information from DEQ about how it would receive credits when the temporary rules were adopted. The after DEQ clarified the program鈥檚 rules.
Kransky said there are still some manufacturers withholding sales of their diesel trucks because they want to avoid a penalty from the agency. He said because of this, DEQ created the credit program that would provide 100% of credits needed for manufacturers of large trucks to stay in compliance with the law through at least 2026 without financial penalties.
Those include companies that make buses and 18-wheelers. It would provide 50% worth of credits for all other truck classes, such as pickups, vans and delivery trucks.
DEQ may consider extending the credit program based on the state鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions, public health and truck market conditions.
are trying to align with California鈥檚 vehicle and truck emission standards. Oregon is one of 10 states that have adopted California鈥檚 standards for these vehicles.
Kransky said 鈥渢he credit program does not change the zero emissions vehicle delivery requirements鈥� under Oregon law, and the state would stay aligned with California.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration has targeted California鈥檚 clean vehicle rules as being too costly, and Republicans have said that allow the emissions restrictions.
Continued pushback
Besides the addition of the credit program, Oregon鈥檚 Clean Truck Rules are facing other proposed changes. Those changes would allow truck companies up to three additional years to be in compliance with state emissions rules. They also would permanently delay rules limiting nitrogen oxide pollution from fossil fuel engines.
Leaders in the trucking industry have said Oregon鈥檚 rules are not ready to be implemented, saying there are not enough zero emissions trucks that could meet industry needs for hauling heavy loads and driving long distances. They鈥檝e also pointed out the lack of public charging infrastructure for heavy duty trucks.
Meanwhile, environmental and public health advocates say the rules have to move forward to reduce the state鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions. According to DEQ, the transportation sector accounts for 35% of Oregon鈥檚 overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The push and pull over the rules has also prompted Gov. Kotek to send a letter to DEQ in March requesting the agency find a way 鈥渢o quickly develop a solution鈥� for the largest truck makers.
Last month, Environmental Quality Commissioner Chair were ready to be implemented later this year and suggested a one- to two-year delay may not be enough time to address all the issues.
State Rep. Shelly Boshart-Davis, R-Albany, said the proposed rules from DEQ still won鈥檛 work.
鈥淚鈥檝e come to a conclusion that either DEQ doesn鈥檛 want to make this work or doesn鈥檛 know how to make this work because there鈥檚 no manufacturers out there or dealerships, or anybody, that says this will work,鈥� she said.
Boshart-Davis is the chief sponsor of a . The bill is set for a work session on April 8.
She鈥檚 heard from truck manufacturers that sales are down because they are trying to sell a zero emissions truck that would keep them in compliance with the rules before they sell a diesel engine. Because of that, truck manufacturers and dealers have not been able to sell any diesel-powered vehicles, she said.
DEQ鈥檚 rules do not ban the sale of diesel truck engines, rather they increase the required amount of zero emission truck sales over time.
Boshart-Davis also said the proposed credit program is not a program that California has and questioned if Oregon is opening itself to legal risk by diverging from California鈥檚 rules.
鈥淭his credit process or this credit scheme, whatever you want to call it, isn鈥檛 happening in California, so therefore, it鈥檚 not identical,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd so doing this takes a risk and puts people up for risk of litigation to be sued because they鈥檙e not following this. So legally this is not identical to California.鈥�
DEQ is seeking public comment on the rules through April 23. The agency will hold a public hearing on April 17. The Environmental Quality Commission is set to vote on the proposed rules in July.
