California Votes to Strengthen Diesel Idling Regulation
UCS Vehicles Engineer Don Anair and UCS California activists played major roles in the unanimous October California Air Resources Board (CARB) vote to strengthen the state's existing diesel idling regulation to limit truck idling to five minutes. This new regulation includes diesel trucks with sleeper cabs that typically idle all night. Trucks are now expected to be equipped with alternatives that are cleaner than running their main engines to power air conditioning, heating, and other amenities for sleeping truckers.
Anair took the lead in organizing a sign-on comment letter to the CARB, which was signed by 25 health and environmental organizations in California. He also lobbied CARB board members and testified at the CARB hearing. In addition, he was the technical advisor and one of several media spokespeople for the Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative, comprised of roughly 20 Bay Area groups. Two days before the hearing, the Collaborative held a day of action handing out informational flyers to truckers and residents about existing idling regulations. The collaborative is currently working on outreach efforts at Bay Area schools.
