The new standards and related rules require California's construction contractors to retrofit, repower or replace their exiting fleets of off-road diesel equipment at a cost expected to reach $13 billion.
"This is a
tragic example of what can happen when government regulators turn a blind eye
to the economic and technical obstacles to their admittedly worthy goals,"
said AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr in the group’s statement. "AGC
members share California's interest in protecting the environment, but they
equally appreciate the need to maintain and improve the state's
infrastructure," he added.
AGC believes this standard
could “cripple the construction industry,” and put everything from roads and
bridges to schools, hospitals and other facilities at risk.