Hempstead – Today, the ElectrifyNY coalition released an Electric Vehicle Municipal Toolkit designed to help local governments transition their vehicle fleets away from fossil fuel and increase Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
For Immediate Release: September 9, 2019
Contacts Listed Below
Broad Coalition Releases EV Toolkit to Electrify NY Municipalities
Clean Energy Actions by Towns, Villages, and Counties Crucial to Statewide Success
Hempstead – Today, the ElectrifyNY coalition released an Electric Vehicle Municipal Toolkit designed to help local governments transition their vehicle fleets away from fossil fuels and increase Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure. The Toolkit will educate and mobilize local elected officials as they work to cut down on climate pollution and prepare for a clean, renewable energy future. The toolkit was designed to be a one-stop shop that includes partnerships, state and federal grant programs, and other incentives.
Local governments are vital in the conversion to a renewable energy future. This past June, the Nassau County Legislature passed Local Law 12, which provides a long-term plan to incorporate electric vehicle fleets, EV charging infrastructure, and solar energy installations into all County operations. Steps like this will be enhanced by the comprehensive toolkit, as well as help jumpstart additional actions by local municipalities statewide.
With the recent signing into law of the groundbreaking Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New York State has emerged as a national climate leader. This legislation acts as a blueprint to 
move all sectors of the state’s economy off fossil fuels—including the transportation sector, which is the state’s largest source of climate pollution. As envisioned by the CLCPA, local municipalities must now lead by example and help with this transition by focusing on building renewable energy infrastructure.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, “I am proud to embrace environmentally friendly initiatives that benefit Nassau County and its residents. I thank ElectrifyNY for releasing this electric vehicle municipal toolkit which will help Nassau County as well as towns, villages and cities throughout the county transition away from fossil fuels.”
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “Throughout Suffolk County, towns and villages, from Smithtown to Greenport, have been installing electric vehicle [EV] charging stations. The Town of East Hampton will be adding five EVs to their fleet over the winter. Suffolk County Shared Services plan will be evaluating opportunities to facilitate these efforts.”
Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen said, “The development of a green innovation economy is not only beneficial to the environment, it is better for the bottom-line, saving taxpayers money while providing new and exciting job opportunities. As America’s largest township, we have a responsibility to lead by example, as well as to inform and inspire the public.
Lisa Tyson, Director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition said,“We were instrumental in passing the nation’s most ambitious climate legislation this year, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Now the work begins to implement this bill and transition all sectors of our economy off of fossil fuels. Our work in transportation begins today with the release of the ElectrifyNY Toolkit, which will empower our municipalities to lead the public adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Long Island is a statewide leader in renewable energy and that will only continue as our towns and cities make plans to convert their fleets to all electric.”
Conor Bambrick, Air and Energy Director for Environmental Advocates NY said, “We are excited to stand with our ElectrifyNY partners on the cusp of a bright and promising future. This toolkit offers municipalities a pathway forward, and will galvanize local governments across the state to electrify their fleets. We applaud Nassau County’s adoption of Local Law 12, and look forward to working with local governments, like the Town of Hempstead in the coming months and years to remove dirty tailpipes from our roads and improve the quality of the air we breathe in conjunction with New York State’s transition to 100% renewable energy.”
Michael Voltz, Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables, PSEG Long Island said, “We are looking forward to working with municipalities to increase the electric charging infrastructure on Long Island. Offering a $500 rebate for drivers who install home charging ports is an additional incentive that will encourage people to go electric and avoid range anxiety.”
Excerpt from the EV Municipal Toolkit:
Aside from the health and environmental benefits that come with reductions in air pollution, transitioning to electric vehicles will bring significant economic benefits to households, businesses, and governments. Electric vehicles are simply more efficient than their gas-guzzling counterparts, costing 50 to 70 percent less to operate. Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than those powered by internal combustion engines, meaning a reduction in maintenance costs, which can be significant when it comes to managing municipal fleets. Fuel savings over the life of an electric vehicle can add up to thousands of dollars.
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ElectrifyNY is a statewide coalition of advocates for environmental justice, public transportation, social justice, and good jobs fighting for a clean, equitable electric transportation future for New York.
Contacts
Brian Keegan (Environmental Advocates of NY): 518-462-5526 ext. 238; [email protected]
Ryan Madden (Long Island Progressive Coalition): 914-924-3970;[email protected]
Mike Fricchione (Town of Hempstead): 516-874-8545;[email protected]
Lisa Broughton (Suffolk County):[email protected]
Vicki DiStefano (Nassau County): [email protected]
Michael Voltz (PSEG Long Island): [email protected]
