The leader of a Cummins Inc. business segment offered testimony to a congressional committee tasked with developing policy recommendations for reducing pollution and other activities contributing to the climate crisis.
Tony Satterthwaite, president of Cummins’ Distribution Business, was among several people who testified Tuesday in Washington, D.C., at the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis’ hearing on “Solving the Climate Crisis: Cleaning up Heavy Duty Vehicles, Protecting Communities.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi created the committee in early January as an acknowledgement of the threat of climate change, according to the committee’s website. Public hearings are among the committee’s investigative efforts.
Satterthwaite explained to the committee how Columbus-based Cummins, historically a manufacturer of diesel engines, has embraced stricter emissions standards for 20 years, and has broadened its portfolio of power solutions over the years to include diverse energy sources.
“The heavy duty vehicle industry is facing significant change and more is needed to meet our global energy and environmental challenges,” Satterthwaite said in his remarks, noting the company’s investment in clean diesel and natural gas, and most recently electrified products and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Cummins launched its Electrified Power business in 2018, and in June announced an agreement to buy Hydrogenics Corp., a maker of hydrogen fuel cell modules.
“Enacting policies that promote the power of choice for every market will help ensure that this country and every community within it has the proven technology necessary to meet air quality and climate goals and serve the economy,” Satterthwaite told the committee.
He also shared recommendations from Cummins related to the heavy-duty vehicle industry. Cummins supports robust funding for the Highway Trust Fund to ensure dedicated funds for maintaining and improving highway, bridge and transit infrastructure. It also supports innovation and infrastructure investment for public transit and passenger rail.
Policy recommendations that Cummins supports include:
Repealing the 100-year-old 12% federal excise tax on heavy duty trucks to incentivize new truck purchases, which modernize truck fleets.
Extending tax credits that promote energy efficiency and diversity: the fuel cell vehicle tax credit, alternative fuels tax credit, the alternative fuel refueling infrastructure tax credit, and the energy production tax credit.
Supporting the Fueling America’s Security and Transportation with Electricity Act to provide a 30% federal tax credit for electric transportation options beyond passenger cars, and provide a 30% federal tax credit for recharging and refueling stations, and provide loan guarantees to support capital investments in associated domestic manufacturing.
Providing predictable, dedicated and sustainable funding for capital investment in bus, commuter and passenger rail systems.
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To learn more about the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, go online at climatecrisis.house.gov.
To learn more about Tuesday’s hearing, click on the “Committee activity” tab, then click on the “hearings” option, then click on “Solving the Climate Crisis: Cleaning up Heavy Duty Vehicles, Protecting Communities.”
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