Zero Emissions Fleets, Stronger Pennsylvania Briefing Held in Harrisburg, PA
On Tuesday, November 10th Pennsylvania legislators joined the Pennsylvania Clean Trucks Coalition and its network of advocates for a special session titled “Zero Emission Fleets, Stronger Pennsylvania: Jobs, Investments and Healthier Communities” at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA. The briefing brought together fleet operators, industry experts, state agencies, and local partners for a practical conversation about where Pennsylvania stands and where it can go.
Attendees heard about the current policy landscape in Pennsylvania, state agency programs and available funding (including opportunities to put federal dollars to work in the Commonwealth), real-world results from private-sector fleets already deploying zero-emission vehicles, and progress on charging and fueling infrastructure along with workforce training that prepares Pennsylvanians for well-paying technical careers.
Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities provided support for the event, with Executive Director, Lisa Iadicicco, delivering the event’s keynote talk. Other PRCC Stakeholders served as panelists for the event, including Colton Brown, PennDOT, who served on the State agencies panel; Taki Darakos, PITT OHIO, who served on the private-sector panel; Sarah Olexsak, Duquesne Light Company, who served on the Infrastructure panel; and Bob Koch, Community College of Allegheny County - West Hills Center, who served on the Workforce Development panel which was moderated by Kristen Sabol, PRCC’s Co-Director.
Pennsylvania sits at the center of the nation's freight network. Major interstate corridors, a growing logistics and warehousing sector, and a deep manufacturing base make the Commonwealth a natural leader in the next generation of commercial vehicle technology. As fleet operators nationwide move toward zero-emission trucks and buses to lower fuel and maintenance costs, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to compete for the private investment, manufacturing activity, and skilled jobs that come with this shift.
The move to advanced vehicle technology is also a matter of public health and economic productivity. Diesel exhaust from heavy-duty vehicles is linked to asthma, heart and lung disease, and other conditions that drive up healthcare costs, cause missed work and school days, and weigh on local economies. The burden falls hardest on communities near highways, ports, and distribution hubs. Cleaner fleets mean a healthier workforce and lower costs for employers, families, and taxpayers.
“This event brought together a group of collaborators and other interested parties who are serious about the opportunities presented by zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs),” said Lisa Iadicicco. “We’re very excited about the momentum created for Pennsylvania and we look forward to supporting ZEV transitions throughout the State.”
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