Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club Florida Chapter Director, frank.jackalone@sierraclub.org, 727-804-1317
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released its draft plan for how the state proposes to spend $166 million from the national Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. Florida is the last state to release a draft plan for its settlement money, while other states have already invested monies into existing clean transportation initiatives. Colorado has already awarded over $14 million for 24 new electric buses, while Virginia has invested over $12 million for new electric buses.
The plan dedicates 15 percent of available funding, the maximum allowed, towards electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It also incorporates the EPA’s environmental justice screening tool to identify counties most impacted by air pollution. But the state has signaled it favors investing in diesel vehicles in its plan, leaving the door wide open for further pollution in our communities. At a time when electric buses produce zero emissions and are more cost-effective -- the lifetime ownership of electric buses saves up to $250,000 compared with diesel and gas counterparts as a result from massive savings from maintenance costs and not having to use dirty fuels -- this plan fails to meet the standards of creating clean and healthy communities.
Overall, the entire plan itself is light on details and does not prioritize fleet electrification, presenting huge concerns for Floridians, especially those living in Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough County, where pollution runs rampant.
The public comment period for the draft plan is open through August 16.
In response, Frank Jackalone, Sierra Club’s Florida Chapter Director, released the following statement:
“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is missing a major opportunity to clean up transportation in Florida by favoring the funding of diesel buses over clean transportation like electric buses in this plan. Our state is on the frontline of climate change impacts, so it should also be a leader in taking bold action to combat climate change. Dedicating 15 percent of the Volkswagen Settlement money for electric vehicle charging infrastructure -- as this plan does -- is good but it’s not enough. It’s just the tip of the iceberg of the investments needed to tackle transportation emissions in a state that could be underwater in just a few decades.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.