American Lung Association Applauds Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo for Signing Clean Truck Incentive Program into Law

Last Friday, Governor Lombardo signed the Nevada Clean Trucks and Buses Incentive Program (AB184, Assemblyman Howard Watts) into law. This program will incentivize the adoption of zero-emission Medium and Heavy-Duty (MHD) vehicles. This legislation will help to clean up the heaviest doses of pollution on our roads and bring significant public health benefits. In response to the day’s action, Melissa Ramos, Senior Manager of Clean Air Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Nevada, shares:

“The bill sponsor, Assemblyman Howard Watts, has been a long-time champion for clean air and public health, and this legislation is key to targeting unhealthy emissions from the transportation sector. American Lung Association research has found that supporting zero-emission trucking and investing in non-combustion energy could yield up to $5.2 Billion in public health savings in Nevada over the coming decades. This includes thousands of lost workdays, asthma attacks avoided, and hundreds of lives saved.”

The American Lung Association’s research shows the urgency of moving to zero-emission technologies. Nevada cities appear on the most-polluted lists in the State of the Air 2023 report, with over 90 percent of residents living in a community impacted by poor air quality. Issued in October 2022, “Delivering Clean Air” illustrated the potential health and climate benefits if all new Medium and Heavy-Duty vehicles sold are zero-emission by 2040 and powered by cleaner electricity sources. 
 
Earlier this week, health organizations submitted a letter to Governor Lombardo’s administration urging him to sign this important legislation as an opportunity to improve air quality and spur economic and health benefits.  

“Air pollution from trucks worsens lung and heart disease and contributes to many other serious health conditions,” said Dr. Joanne Leovy, leader of Nevada Clinicians for Climate Action. “Children, pregnant and elderly people, and people with chronic diseases have the highest risks of suffering serious effects, and low-income communities of color are exposed to more truck pollution. We thank Governor Lombardo for signing this legislation to support the transition to zero-emission trucks and buses so Nevadans can breathe healthier air.”

“Public health organizations across Nevada support the investment in zero-emission transportation because we know it is critical to improving air quality,” said John Packham, Policy Director for Nevada Public Health Association. “Establishing the Nevada Clean Trucks and Buses Incentive Program will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and protect the air we breathe.”