Yesterday, the EPA released their annual fuel economy trends report. The data shows that new cars are guzzling 20% less gas and spewing lower climate emissions than their predecessors purchased a decade ago. Clean car standards are helping ensure that vehicles continue to become cleaner and more efficient – reducing air pollution and saving families money at the gas pump. Strong standards are essential to keeping these encouraging trends going.
San Francisco, CA-- Today the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) took a massive step toward a clean energy future by passing a resolution that will order Pacific Gas & Electric, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, to buy clean resources instead of relying on gas plants and by approving 15 pilot programs to support electrification of cars, trucks and buses through infrastructure deployment and other measures, which will be implemented by the State’s three investor-owned utilities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, Hagens Berman, a law firm representing Ford owners, filed a lawsuit alleging Ford Motor Co installed software, often referred to as defeat devices, that enabled its F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks to cheat federal emissions tests.
Hartford, CT -- Today, 26 Connecticut legislators from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Robert Klee urging DEEP to to fast track recommendations that will accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
Atlanta, GA -- Yesterday, Georgia released its draft plan for the use of the Volkswagen diesel settlement fund money. Sierra Club applauds Georgia’s plan to focus in part on zero-emission electric transit buses (“ZEBs”) in and around the Atlanta area, and encourages Georgia to maximize its investment in electric buses.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Scott Pruitt’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a hearing for the reconsideration -- with intent to repeal -- pollution limits from glider kit trucks (freight trucks with a used engine installed in an otherwise new frame). The repeal would declassify "glider kits" as new vehicles or engines, making them no longer subject to air pollution control requirements. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced his intent to revisit the glider loophole that was just closed in August of 2016.
Boston, MA -- Late yesterday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) released an order in Eversource’s rate case that approves the company’s proposal to significantly accelerate the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in its service territory.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, North Carolina applied for funding to invest in clean transportation solutions from the Volkswagen dieselgate settlement funds. With North Carolina’s application, all 50 states plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico have applied for these funds one day ahead of the December 1 deadline.
Atlanta, GA -- Yesterday, the Atlanta City Council passed ordinance 17-0-1654, which will require all new residential homes and public parking facilities to install the wiring to accommodate the possibility of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The ordinance requires that 20 percent of the spaces in all new commercial and multi-family parking structures and all new residential homes be EV-ready to make it easier for future residents to install EV charging stations.
Today, 13 environmental groups working on clean transportation solutions sent a letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS) urging them to select plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) for the next generation of delivery trucks. A switch to electric delivery trucks will both benefit the health of employees and neighborhood residents by reducing their exposure to harmful emissions, and will cut down on fuel and maintenance costs while helping the Postal Service meet its sustainability goals.
Leading environmental, health, scientific and business organizations today applauded the announcement by seven states and Washington, D.C. of plans to develop a regional policy to reduce carbon pollution from the transportation sector. The move was endorsed today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Acadia Center, Sierra Club, and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and five other groups.
Annapolis, MD -- Today eight Northeastern states and jurisdictions, including Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., announced their plans to share approaches and develop regional policies to enable greater access to clean mobility opportunities, reducing carbon pollution from transportation fuels, creating jobs, and growing their economies.