New York Legislative Session: Wins, Losses and More Work to Do
For E2 in New York, 2021 has been the year of clean transportation.
New York’s landmark 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% economy-wide by 2030 and 85% and net-zero by 2050. But at E2, we know this goal cannot be achieved without addressing the transportation sector, which is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
As New York’s legislative session kicked-off in January, E2 embarked on efforts to support the passage of a host of clean transportation bills aimed at increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) on the road and tackling carbon emissions in fuels that power existing vehicles and fleets.
- PASSED: Transition to 100% Zero-Emission Vehicle Sales (A4302/S2758) — On April 26, the bill passed in both houses and is headed to Governor Cuomo’s desk for signature by the end of the year. The Transition to 100% ZEV Sales bill will require 100 percent of new sales of passenger cars, light trucks and off-road vehicles be zero-emission by 2035, and larger truck and bus sales by 2045.
- Green Transit (S3535B/A3090)/Green Jobs (S3405/A2083) — These two bills work together to increase the number of zero-emission buses on New York’s roads while also incentivizing the manufacturing of electric buses in high-need communities within the state and increasing access to good-paying, local jobs. E2 led on organizing a virtual advocacy day with New York State legislators on May 14 to discuss moving the bills, organizing sixteen meetings with legislators, including with key members of the transportation committees in the Senate and Assembly as well as Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins. Although this bill had broad support from environmental groups and health and justice advocates, it did not move out of committee in either house.
- Clean Fuels Standard (A862A/S2962A) — On May 18, our coalition organized a virtual advocacy day in support of New York adopting a Clean Fuels Standard (CFS). Passage of this bill would enable the state to provide a technology-neutral funding source for low carbon fuels and zero-emission modes of transportation while also reducing emissions by gradually tightening carbon performance standards over time at no cost to the state or taxpayers.
- Direct Sales (A4614/S1763) — Our recently-formed coalition held a a virtual advocacy day on May 27 to meet with 10 influential lawmakers in both houses. In addition to the advocacy day, E2 also submitted a letter from E2 members and supporters calling for the passage of the ZEV Direct Sales bill. This bill would allow for EV manufacturers without franchised dealerships to sell ZEVs directly to consumers in New York, opening up the competitive market and giving consumers unfettered access to EVs.
Although the majority of clean transportation bills we’re supporting this session did not move out of Committee, each of the actions stipulated in our priority clean transportation bills were included in the May 10th Transportation Advisory Panel (TAP) recommendations to New York’s Climate Action Council.
We will spend the summer broadening our base of support for legislative action that will accelerate New York’s shift to a clean transportation future. There is much more work to do as we set our sights on a clean, more prosperous, more equitable climate future.
