Adopted rule
Filed and effective: Sept. 30, 2024
Rulemaking contact:
Gerik Kransky, 971-288-6056
The 2023 Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3409 authorizing the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to adopt rules to implement a new rebate program supporting the purchase of zero emissions medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
HB 3409 provides $3M in revenue for the new Zero-Emission Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Incentive Fund and authorizes DEQ to establish a program for providing rebates for the purchase or lease of qualifying vehicles for use in Oregon. The Environmental Quality Commission adopted rules for the rebate program that specify details including application requirements, rebate allocation criteria, other requirements included in the statute, and program elements to alleviate disproportionate air pollution burdens among frontline communities.
In Oregon, medium and heavy-duty vehicles are currently responsible for an estimated 9.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually—approximately 42 percent of all greenhouse gases from the on-road vehicle fleet. This new rebate program will provide critical support for Oregon's transportation fleets to transition to zero emissions technologies and reduce these emissions statewide.
This rulemaking also incorporated 2024 Legislative changes (HB 4109) made to the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program. The changes include creating a new fund for dedicated Charge Ahead funding and removing the ability to stack the Standard and Charge Ahead Rebates. Instead, it creates a new rebate level for Charge Ahead applicants purchasing or leasing a new vehicle.
DEQ is convened an advisory committee to review the technical issues and fiscal impacts related to the proposed rules. In convening this committee, DEQ has appointed members that reflect the range of entities that are both directly and indirectly affected by proposed changes to the rules.
Meeting 3: May 29, 2024
Meeting 2: April 9, 2024
Meeting 1: Feb. 21, 2024