ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NATSO, representing America's
travel plazas and truck stops, and SIGMA: America's Leading Fuel
Marketers, issued the following statement in response to the Biden
Administration's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Regulations and
Standards Final Rule.
"We appreciate that the Biden Administration is working toward a
more pragmatic approach to reducing carbon emissions from
heavy-duty vehicles. Our industry shares this objective, and
today's Rule, coupled with the National Zero Emission Corridor
Strategy, demonstrates that the Administration recognizes at least
some of the impediments to private sector investment in heavy-duty
electric vehicle charging.
"Unfortunately, today's Final Rule represents only a modest
improvement from the proposed rule. The Administration's Final Rule
does not adequately consider the challenges that fuel retailers
face in transitioning to heavy-duty truck electrification. The
Administration's Final Rule also does not recognize the need
to support lower carbon alternatives to diesel fuel that are
currently commercially viable, such as biodiesel and renewable
diesel.
"To support the full electrification of long-haul vehicles, fuel
retailers will need to invest $57
billion to build out a sufficiently dense long-haul charging
network, according to a recent study released by Roland Berger. To electrify all medium and
heavy-duty vehicles, fleets and charge point operators will need to
invest $620 billion into chargers,
site infrastructure and utility service costs.
"Off-highway refueling locations will need dozens of
fast-chargers to service heavy-duty trucks. The charging
capacity required at a single large truck stop would be roughly
equivalent to the electric load of an entire small town.
Considering that utilities will need to invest $320 billion to upgrade the nation's power
grid, we remain unconvinced that the electricity providers will be
able to increase generation and transmission activity to
service that kind of load at scale within ten years.
"Fuel retailers are at the forefront of investments in new
refueling technologies and their necessary infrastructure.
Fuel retailers are actively investing in many technologies that
reduce carbon emissions from transportation fuels. Rather than
focus on a single technology, they all should be supported at a
level that is proportionate with their relative climate benefits
and commercial viability.
"If the Administration is interested in decarbonizing heavy-duty
trucking, the best course of action in the near term is to put
forth strong incentives for renewable liquid fuels in conjunction
with today's GHG Rule. A single gallon of biodiesel reduces
emissions by nearly 80 percent compared with diesel. Renewable
diesel and biodiesel represent the best opportunity for reducing
carbon emissions from the existing fleet of trucks for the
foreseeable future."
About NATSO and SIGMA
NATSO is the trade association of America's travel plaza and truck
stop industry. Founded in 1960, NATSO represents the industry on
legislative and regulatory matters; serves as the official source
of information on the diverse travel plaza and truck stop industry;
provides education to its members; conducts an annual convention
and trade show; and supports efforts to generally improve the
business climate in which its members operate.
SIGMA is the national trade association representing the most
successful, progressive, and innovative fuel marketers and chain
retailers in the United States and
Canada. Founded in 1958 as the
Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA), SIGMA
has become a fixture in the motor fuel marketing industry.
Representing a diverse membership of approximately 250 independent
chain retailers and marketers of motor fuel, the association serves
to further the interests of both the branded and unbranded segment
of the industry while providing information and services to
members. For more information visit SIGMA.org.
Contact: Tiffany Wlazlowski
Neuman, Vice President, Public Affairs. 202-365-9459
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truck-stops-fuel-marketers-respond-to-heavy-duty-greenhouse-gas-rule-302103574.html
SOURCE NATSO, Inc.