We agree with state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, in his opposition to the state’s Advanced Clean Truck regulation.

For starters, the requirement is bad news for a border county like southern Chautauqua County because trucking companies, if they so choose, can simply move across the Pennsylvania border and not have to change their fleet at all. For some companies, that may be a better option than investing in both more expensive electric trucks and the charging infrastructure to power them. Companies that comply will pass the cost of the charging infrastructure on to customers – further increasing the price you pay for goods.

For local governments, as the town of Busti found out, plans to purchase vehicles now get more complicated as well. Busti can’t simply pass the cost of the new infrastructure on to consumers because governments have to live within New York’s 2% tax cap. The Advanced Clean Truck regulation doesn’t come with guaranteed money for local governments, which means taxpayers are going to bear the cost of charging infrastructure buildout whether they like the idea or not.

The eventual electrification of vehicle fleets needs to happen. The electrification of the trucking industry is likely to benefit our local economy, particularly Cummins Inc., whose engineers have been working on a new wave of options for non-diesel engines. But even Cummins officials will tell you there is work to be done to find the best solutions to replace diesel engines.

The initial 2025 date to begin meeting the ACT wasn’t feasible, in our view. The DEC agreed, telling The Post-Journal on Tuesday that new regulations are being proposed that will postpone compliance until 2029. So, Busti will be able to get the snowplow it needs, and everyone can take a deep breath while the market catches up to New York’s climate goals.