Asm. Angelo Santabarbara speaking to reporters after the press conference with EVs from the tour behind him
By Ramona Cornell du Houx
May 30, 2024
ALBANY, NY. Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) kicked off a Health, Prosperity and Energy Security Electric Vehicle Tour at the Capitol today during a press conference. Afterwards at the Capitol park elected officials were given EV demonstrations and taken for rides in EVs on this educational tour.
The fossil fuel industry has neglected public health across the state, and held back clean energy production for too long. The state, nation and world will be positively impacted by the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
With more than 11 million gas vehicles registered in New York, the transportation sector is the state’s single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The transportation sector accounts for 47 percent of New York State’s CO2 emissions
“Too many suffer lifelong ailments from breathing toxic vehicle emissions. The transportation sector fuels 28 percent of America’s greenhouse gasses feeding the climate crisis. Electrification is our opportunity to reverse this course, bring prosperity and help ensure our energy security as we combat the climate emergency,” said Alex Cornell du Houx, former Maine State Representative, Marine combat veteran, and President of EOPA. “As we electrify the transportation sector and our buildings, we will deploy more electricity generated by renewables, especially from offshore wind turbines. Strong ocean winds are reliable around the clock making this resource critical to our success. These measures are imperative for our nation’s energy security.”
Last summer smoke covered the state and coated New York City in an orange foggy glow creating dangerous health conditions. The Canadian fires showed the region the climate emergency in a dramatic way as people saw a result of how fossil fuel-based greenhouse gas emissions can impact their lives. On a daily basis the invisible toxic particulates flood into the lungs of unsuspecting people just by breathing the air. Tragically, environmental justice communities suffer disproportionately the most from these pollutants that can lead to lung and cardiovascular disease, and death.
“Requiring vehicles to be entirely free of carbon and other toxic emissions is the best way to ramp up our fight against the climate crisis and ensure public health improves, especially in overburdened environmental justice communities. It is going to take an all-out initiative to save our planet and protect our people. EVs move us in the right direction on the road to a clean energy economy,” said New York State Senator Pete Harckham, Environmental Conservation Committee Chairman.
State Senator Pete Harckham sponsored the law that requires all new passenger vehicles sold in New York to be zero-emission by 2035.
“The severe effects of the climate crisis only exacerbate public health problems caused by toxic fossil fuel air pollution, especially in environmental justice communities that are next to highways or near manufacturing and/or shipping facilities. We know we have to take urgent action to meet the greenhouse gas emissions goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA),” said State Sen. Lea Webb, District 52, former Binghamton City Council Member. “With our zero vehicle emissions policy, New York will see $68 billion in public health savings, save 6,200 souls from a premature death, and stop 159,000 asthma attacks by 2050, according to an American Lung Association. Now we need to build public awareness of how EVs are reliable, affordable and will help save lives and counter the effects of climate change.”
With the foresight and dedication of lawmakers New York established the CLCPA to counter this climate emergency, and President Biden successfully passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These actions put New York and the US on the path to a 100 percent clean energy economy that will improve public health and energy security.
“We passed highly ambitious climate legislation with the CLCPA to combat climate change and stop dirty pollution that will protect public health. We are making great progress to meet those climate goals. Electric vehicles play an important role in getting there. We also are moving the dial forward with our effort for EV ready, EV capable buildings,” said Assemblymember Patricia Fay, District 109. “Additionally, I’m really optimistic that the Albany Port will be able to assemble and manufacture parts of offshore wind turbines to be sent down the Hudson River for offshore wind farms that will help transition the state to 100 percent clean electricity. In the process hundreds of jobs will be created.”
The Inflation Reduction Act EV incentives are up to $7,500, and New York State offers $2,000 from the Drive Clean Rebate program.
““With federal and state incentives, electric vehicles are becoming more affordable than many gas-powered ones. As we transition away from fossil fuels, the use of electric vehicles will continue to grow,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, veteran and EOPA National Task Force member. “Additionally, offshore wind energy will be a vital source of clean power. These initiatives are essential for building sustainable communities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring a prosperous future.”
The CLCPA mandates that at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2030 and calls for the development of 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.
“New York set ambitious climate goals in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, and to reach net zero by 2050. This new era of clean energy electricity is dawning. As we transition to EVs with offshore wind and other clean energy sources powering them consumers won’t be subjected to fluctuating gas prices. EVs are driving New York’s transition to clean transportation forward for our climate, healthy communities and energy security for generations to come,” said Dominic Frongillo, Elected Officials to Protect America Executive Director and Co-Founder, former Council Member and Deputy Supervisor of Caroline, New York.
Even though New York is one of 17 states that have California’s strict tailpipe emission standards, and one of five to adopt the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) requirement, New York is not doing enough to meet its own EV goals. The state’s EV market share in 2023 was about 2 percent while California’s was 25 percent.
“There are approximately 180,000 ZEVs and plug-in hybrids registered in New York, according to the DMV as of Oct. 1, 2023. While that’s a great start, it shows we’re not on track to meet our commitment to put 850,000 ZEVs on the road by the end of 2025,” said Assembly Member Dr. Anna Kelles. “With federal and state incentives electric vehicles are now more affordable than ever before. We can and must do more to ensure a clean energy future for our health, security and prosperity.”
The line up of EVs on show and ready to be taken for a drive.
Economic opportunities with more EVs—
“In Albany’s South End, the air quality issues brought on by heavy traffic have resulted in more heart disease, more asthma and lung disease, and more emergency room visits. The EV transition we have launched promises cleaner air, as well as a major solution to climate change. It means lower asthma rates, fewer heart attacks, and less lung cancer. The City of Albany has already committed $11 million over five years to fleet electrification and we are actively installing charging infrastructure and buying more EVs. The cleaner air brought on by electric vehicles will benefit the South End and every neighborhood across our city,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.
Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, announced automaker investments in EV manufacturing have jumped 406 percent, according to the White House.
EV drivers and their vehicles at the Capitol ready to take lawmakers on a drive after the press conference.
“Electrifying our cars represents an important step in the fight against climate change. Many perceived barriers to owning an electric vehicle have gone away in recent years, and thanks to state and federal leadership, there are more incentives and charging stations than ever before. We welcome this opportunity to answer the questions of the elected officials as they too become leaders in our state’s climate transition,” said Deb Peck Kelleher, Deputy Director, Alliance for Clean Energy New York.
As New York builds out offshore wind new jobs opportunities for economic growth are happening.
“We are already witnessing how offshore wind and other renewable projects bring construction jobs, local tax revenue, and clean electricity to the state. While the Environmental Protection Agency’s strong standards put emissions in check on our road to the universal adoption of electric vehicles, offshore wind’s never ending clean energy will be key to power EVs and buildings, and improve public health. All this makes our energy infrastructure and economy more resilient by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,” said John M. Polimeni, Phd, Former Schenectady City Councilmember, Economics Professor, EOPA National Task Force Chair.
Across the nation sales of EVs have increased dramatically with the IRA’s incentives and more models available. In 2023, a record 1.2 million EVs were bought in the United States, with sales consistently greater each month than in the prior two years. EV sales in the fourth quarter were nearly 30 percent higher than the same quarter in 2022, which would be considered exceptionally strong growth in any market.
EV interest will continue to grow as consumers gain more familiarity with them, and fast-charging public infrastructure is built out. Currently, there are 130,000 EV charging stations across the country, and The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides funds for 500,000 more to be installed. There are also incentives in the IRA for home plug in ports. New York state received $175 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $5 billion allocation for EV charging networks. Additionally, companies are providing innovative solutions so that every EV owner can feel safe knowing their EV will find a charging source.
“Drawing on my experience in public service, I recognize the importance of advocacy for the economic empowerment of local communities. As the country moves to adopt more electrified transportation options, deploying domestically produced EV hardware and software solutions when building charging infrastructure is crucial for ensuring a smooth transition,” said Kate Kruk, director of partnership and engagement for Livingston Energy Group, a Lynkwell company. “As the only New York-based EV charging provider on the NYS Office of General Services (OGS) procurement contract, Livingston Energy Group is proud to be not only putting New York’s infrastructure dollars to work, but investing those dollars to put New Yorkers to work in the green energy technology industry.”
Livingston Energy Group, a Lynkwell company, is a full deployment electric vehicle charging solutions provider that has close to 10,000 charging stations active and in development on its cloud-based software platform, which hosts dozens of EV charging networks.
After New York the tour continues on to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
The tour is led by us at Elected Officials to Protect America. EOPA partners for the tour include Climate Action Campaign, National Electric Vehicle Association, Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Charge EVC, Lightning Clubs of America and The Environmental Defense Fund.