ElectrifyNY Coalition Launches Fight for Equitable Electric Transportation Future

New York, NY -- Today, ElectrifyNY, a new coalition of environmental justice, public transportation, public health, and good jobs advocates, launched its campaign for a clean, equitable electric transportation future for the state of New York.

ElectrifyNY is calling on New York State to commit to a swift, just transition to a zero emissions transportation future for New York by 2040 -- one that creates good jobs, centers environmental justice communities, and expands access to public transportation in underserved communities.

ElectrifyNY is calling on the MTA to release a detailed plan and timeline for a 2040 all-electric fleet. The coalition will unveil a “municipal toolkit” to help transit agencies and officials harness electrification to create good jobs, bring environmental justice communities and frontline workers into the decision-making process, determine the principles of a just transition, shape key equity metrics, and meaningfully integrate community feedback to ensure transparency and public accountability.

Transportation emissions comprise 34 percent of New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, our state still lacks a coherent long-term plan to reduce transportation emissions in a manner consistent with the state’s broader climate goals.

New York State is home to over 100 transportation agencies, including the largest in the nation, the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The MTA alone purchases 30 percent of all transportation vehicles in the country and emits more than half a million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.

In New York City, bus riders from low income communities and communities of color account for 75 percent of total ridership. With nearly half of the MTA’s buses still burning diesel fuel, these riders are disproportionately impacted by the poor air quality and noxious emissions from diesel burning buses. After a recent investigation revealed that 75 percent of the MTA’s bus depots are located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color and that neighborhoods like East New York and Brownsville are disproportionately serviced by the oldest buses, the MTA announced it would retire those buses by May.

Earlier this year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) mandated that all transit agencies in the state electrify public bus fleets by 2040. As the largest city in the U.S. with the largest public bus fleet, New York can follow suit and become a national leader, not only for electrifying transit, but for doing it the right way: centering environmental justice and good job creation to ensure a truly just transition for all New Yorkers.

New York City Environmental Justice Alliance

“New York City’s environmental justice communities are impacted by a variety of undue burdens. The transportation sector is no exception. Our communities rely on public transportation the most, and we are also the most impacted by tailpipe pollution from dirty diesel buses, due to the prevalence of bus depots in our neighborhoods and the oldest diesel buses being deployed in our streets. Our children suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments from fine particulate matter emitted into our air. Our communities deserve better. We want to see our State leadership commit to a zero-emission, all-electric vehicle transition to clean our air, and improve public health in environmental justice communities. Clean air is our right,” said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance

Environmental Advocates of New York

Peter M. Iwanowicz, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York said, “The transportation sector is the largest source of pollution in New York with levels higher than they were in the ‘90s. Despite this, the state lacks a coherent long-term strategy to reduce transportation emissions. Leadership must come from the local level by committing to transition to electric vehicles and pushing the state and federal governments for the resources to succeed. Only through investments in electric buses and cars, commitments to all-electric municipal and public transit fleets, and the expansion of public transportation to underserved communities can we move on to a cleaner future.”

Tri-State Transportation Campaign

“Transportation’s impact on climate change is huge. The only way we’re going to reduce emissions is to get more commuters onto transit, make sure that transit is electric, and encourage drivers to buy electric vehicles. Following the City of New York’s and the MTA’s lead in transitioning our public transit and municipal fleets to clean vehicles is a step we have to take. If we’re going to meet our climate goals, we have to make this shift--and we have to make it soon,” said Nick Sifuentes, Executive Director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Sierra Club

“New York policymakers can’t ignore the massive emissions from the transportation sector as they move to implement bigger climate goals,” said Allison Considine, NY Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club. “Reducing transportation emissions means ensuring resiliency for the people of New York, improving health outcomes, and creating green jobs. We must invest in affordable and accessible public transportation -- including zero-emission buses -- and expand the necessary infrastructure and policies, like electric vehicle charging stations, for all New Yorkers to transition to zero-emission vehicles.”

Jobs to Move America

“With the largest city in the country and home to more than 100 transportation agencies, New York has the potential to become a national leader in the movement for a climate-safe future. Committing to zero-emissions transportation by 2040 is a crucial first step. But the next steps — how our governments and public agencies choose to meet this goal — are just as important. Electrifying public bus fleets and building New York’s clean energy infrastructure will deliver a boost to our economy. But only by adopting real-world, effective policies like the U.S. Employment Plan will New York harness this public investment to create good, family-sustaining jobs for our communities, address historic racial and economic injustices, and bring frontline workers and environmental justice communities together to ensure a truly just transition," said Mo-Yain Tham, Research and Policy Associate of Jobs to Move America.

New Yorkers for Clean Power

“We’re thrilled to build the movement to electrify the transportation sector, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York,” said Betta Broad, Director of New Yorkers for Clean Power. “More EVs on our streets mean cleaner air, healthier communities and a more livable climate.”

Long Island Progressive Coalition

“Long Island has the highest concentration of cars in the entire State. Plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) present a critical opportunity for us to slash pollution, combat climate change, and create local jobs," said Ryan Madden, Sustainability Organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition. "We must accelerate the transition to plug-in electric vehicles for individuals and more importantly, for our municipal transportation stock, including buses, trucks and other vehicles. Our seemunicipalities have a crucial role to play in this transition and they must prioritize the use of electric vehicles in their own fleets and invest in charging stations throughout our communities.”

Natural Resources Defense Council

“As we work together during earth week to tackle climate change, transportation is a critical focus for New York City and New York State,” said Samantha Wilt, Senior Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “We need clean vehicles throughout our cities and across the state for cleaner air and less climate pollution.”

NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

“The climate crisis is real and it is urgent. That is why the City of New York is taking swift action to reduce carbon emissions from its vehicle fleet,” said Lisette Camilo, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. “Phasing out the use of fossil fuels is imperative and the use of electric vehicles will help us get there. To date, we have replaced over 1,750 fleet vehicles with electric models and have built the cleanest and greenest municipal fleet in the country.”

El Puente

“As an organization representing the low income communities of color in Southside Williamsburg and Bushwick, El Puente strongly supports a full electric bus fleet. Our neighborhoods are home to abundant transportation infrastructure, including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and a bus depot, and as such, our communities suffer from a disproportionate amount of air pollution. Environmental justice communities like ours will also be hit first and worst by climate change, which has the potential to further devastate communities already experiencing undue environmental harms. For the sake of our health, the environment, and justice, we must commit to a zero-emission electric transportation system,” said, Leslie Velasquez, Environmental Justice Program Manager of El Puente

Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice 

“Coming from the South Bronx, living and working in a community that is burdened by what is now known to be the Toxic Triangle, we know the time is now to make critical changes in transportation.  As our communities and cities engage in processes that intend to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers, we must see consistency and real sustainable solutions that address not only the overall air quality of our city, but also solutions that are equitable in communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental justice issues,” said Dariella Rodrigues, Director of Community Organizing of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.

Transportation Alternatives

“New York needs to be a national leader in rapidly moving away from fossil fuels. Not only is transportation the second leading contributor to our carbon emissions in New York City - and the leading cause statewide -- the amount of exhaust we breathe every day hurts our health and wellbeing in more ways than we can count. One vital path forward is for New York to embrace electric buses and transit, as well as electric bicycles and scooters as part of a sustainable citywide transportation ecosystem. ‘Greening’ mass transit, expanding it, and providing electric ‘last mile’ connections, will make New York healthier, more accessible, more equitable, and more prosperous.” said Transportation Alternatives Senior Director of Advocacy, Thomas DeVito.

Sustainable Westchester

Robert Elliott, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester (a non-profit consortium of 44 county, city, town, and village governments in Westchester) said, “New York State is making progress toward electrifying our transportation system. But we need to reach the exponential growth that can only happen when we are all aligned. With our municipal fleets leading by example, Westchester experienced a 100% growth in electric vehicle adoption in our county in 2018. We are pleased to be part of the coordinated statewide effort to electrify every part of our transportation system. Working together to achieve our clean energy goals, we can reduce air pollution, improve the global environment, and save money on fuel and maintenance costs.”

ALIGN: Alliance for a Greater New York

“With transit being the second highest contributor to climate change in New York City, the ElectrifyNY campaign presents a major opportunity to transform public transportation in a way that fights climate change, confronts systemic environmental injustice, and creates family-sustaining, career-track jobs,” said Daisy Chung, Deputy Director of ALIGN. “Electrifying NYC’s public bus fleet is a critical investment in our future, as it connects workers, particularly those from low-income communities and communities of color, to jobs in NYC’s fastest growing industries such as health, education, food services, culture and hospitality that are spread throughout the five boroughs.”

American Lung Association

“This week, the American Lung Association released our annual State of the Air report that showed more than fifty percent of New Yorkers live in counties with failing air quality. Electrifying New York’s transit fleet will reduce emissions, helping all New Yorkers breathe healthier air,” said, Elizabeth Hamlin-Berninger, Director of Advocacy in New York for the American Lung Association