The Air Resources Board is set to approve next month a sales ban on forklifts powered by propane and other combustion fuels.
Ahead of the hearing, the Western Propane Gas Association is raising alarms that the mandate would cost owners and operators up to $27 billion. The trade group argues the regulation would hurt small businesses, food banks and state agencies already facing cutbacks.
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The association commissioned an economic impact study that found CARB “vastly underestimated” the number of forklifts affected—pinning it at 95,000 compared to the study’s 220,000. Costs for replacement forklifts would be $10 billion while batteries would reach nearly $3 billion and charging stations more than $6 billion. That does not include billions more for upgrading buildings and energy infrastructure.
WPGA President and CEO Colin Sueyres called it critical for CARB to “take a hard look at the real-world impact of its proposal” and work with businesses on an alternative that is cheaper, more feasible and more effective.
