By: Meyer Wolfsheim

State Democratic lawmakers are pushing to delay Governor Kathy Hochul’s strict green-energy mandate, which requires an increasing number of new large trucks to be emissions-free—a rule they describe as “nearly impossible” to implement, according to the New York Post.

State Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton) have introduced a proposal to postpone the mandate until at least January 1, 2027, the New York Post reports.

Hochul’s “Advanced Clean Trucks” rule mandates that manufacturers of trucks weighing over 8,500 pounds sell a rising percentage of zero-emission vehicles in New York. Starting in 2025, 7% of new truck sales must be emissions-free, with the target increasing each year through 2035—eventually reaching 40% for tractor-trailers and up to 75% for other heavy-duty trucks.

Cooney and Lupardo argue that the mandate, which promotes electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, places an unfair burden on the trucking industry. Lupardo pointed out that compliance is “nearly impossible” due to inadequate charging infrastructure, high costs, and logistical challenges. She also noted that current battery technology poses significant issues, as electric trucks take up to 10 hours to charge while offering a much shorter driving range than diesel trucks. Diesel-powered trucks, by contrast, can be refueled in about 10 minutes and travel roughly 2,000 miles per tank. Additionally, electric heavy-duty trucks cost up to three times more than their diesel counterparts.

“As we transition to a clean energy future, we shouldn’t put an entire industry at risk in the process,” the lawmakers said, according to the New York Post.

Despite these concerns, a coalition of nine environmental groups opposes delaying the rule, dismissing the trucking industry’s arguments as a scare tactic. In a joint statement, the groups claimed that postponing the mandate would result in increased pollution-related health problems, particularly in low-income and minority communities. The NYC Environmental Justice Alliance warned the delay could lead to more emergency room visits and rising asthma rates, urging lawmakers to reject the proposed legislation.

Other environmental groups against the delay include the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Earthjustice, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Sierra Club. Advocates claim that implementing the rule as scheduled would save lives and generate an estimated $2.8 billion in public health benefits.

Governor Hochul’s office has declined to comment directly on the legislation, but spokesperson Paul DeMichele stated, “The governor doesn’t intend to punitively penalize the path to a better future—we can and will do this together.”

This battle over green-energy policies is part of a broader fight in New York, as Hochul also faces pressure to slow the timeline for phasing out gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles. Additionally, a coalition of businesses and fossil fuel industry groups has filed a federal lawsuit against the state over a law that would require oil, gas, and coal companies to pay $75 billion for carbon emissions.

According to the New York Post, the broader Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 mandates a statewide transition away from fossil fuels, requiring a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a shift to 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2040. Under Hochul’s leadership, the state has also banned gas stoves, furnaces, and propane heating in new buildings, while recently extending its fracking ban to prohibit using carbon dioxide to extract natural gas.