North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order for North Carolina to initiate an Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, a policy that will help to achieve widespread electrification of vehicles ranging from delivery vans to tractor trailers.

Executive Order 271 directs the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to work with stakeholders to propose to the Environmental Management Commission an Advanced Clean Trucks program that would ensure zero-emission trucks and buses are available for purchase in the state.

ACT would require manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of ZEVs over time while providing flexibility, through credits, trading and other features. The sales targets would also drive investment in other zero-emission technologies including charging and fueling infrastructure, while bolstering North Carolina’s competitiveness in seeking billions of dollars in federal funding for clean energy development.

The order outlines a strategy for fleet owners and other partners to grow the medium- and heavy-duty electric truck market in the state through investment in charging infrastructure, purchase incentives, workforce development, demonstration projects, technical assistance, and other strategies.

Happening Now: @NC_Governor announcing E.O. 271 supporting NC's transition to zero-emission vans, trucks and buses: Advanced Clean Trucks + whole-of-government approach to ensure an affordable, equitable transition to a clean transportation future⚡️⚡️🚌🚌☀️☀️ pic.twitter.com/oh5G3gw9i0

— Zach Pierce (@Zachmpierce) October 25, 2022

It also directs the development of a North Carolina ZEV Infrastructure Needs Assessment to identify charging and fueling needs to ensure an affordable, equitable and reliable infrastructure network to support the Advanced Clean Trucks program and the ZEV target.

“North Carolina is already a national hub for truck and bus manufacturing and supply chain development, and we should not miss the opportunity to lead the market-driven transition already underway to cleaner and increasingly cheaper zero-emission technologies that benefit our economy and our communities,” Cooper said.