As we head into 2021, New York state and its local governments are focused on one thing: getting the state economy back on a sustainable growth path, funding vital state programs, and helping communities recover from the devastation of the pandemic.
The pandemic has highlighted the link between public health and environmental pollution; it has also given us a glimpse of what a future could look like with cleaner air.
New York can chart a path forward that achieves statewide climate, public health, and economic development goals by, eliminating barriers to significant private investment in clean technology and infrastructure—in line with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
A study conducted by Harvard University found that communities with high levels of air pollution are more affected by Covid-19 compared to those who live in less polluted areas. In New York, transportation emissions account for 30% of the state’s overall emissions, and half of New Yorkers live in areas with failing air quality. We need to dramatically improve our air quality, strengthen public health measures and get New Yorkers back to work without burdening already stressed budgets.
A clean fuel standard accomplishes these objectives by facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner fuels, promoting transportation electrification, attracting businesses and private investment to the state and creating jobs in clean transportation infrastructure.
A clean fuel standard would require fuel suppliers like oil refiners and importers to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with their fuels while encouraging the production and use of low-carbon alternative fuels and expanded transportation electrification. These initiatives would help create a dependable, long-term market for clean fuels and drive investment into these industries, without additional cost to the state or taxpayers.
To meet New York’s goal of having 850,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2025, the state needs a 1500% increase in adoption of the new vehicles over five years with a commensurate increase in access to charging infrastructure at home, work, around town and along highways. A clean fuel standard addresses both of these targets, as well as broader GHG reduction targets, by attracting investment in EV charging and generating significant funding that can be used to expand access to the benefits of electric transportation across the state. Program funds can also be earmarked for providing additional support for low- and moderate-income communities, whether or not they own a personal vehicle.
Clean fuel standards work by attracting investment in cleaner fuels and infrastructure. This can help fleet operators electrify faster, thereby eliminating harmful localized air pollution from diesel engines. It also improves the business case for owning and operating charging stations, which accelerates deployment and further encourages more electric vehicles. In California, payback periods on charging stations have been cut in half because of the state’s clean fuel standard. In fact, over the course of 2013 through the first half of 2020, California’s clean fuel standard generated over $1.2 billion in value that has gone towards transportation electrification projects in the state and expanded the use of electricity as a transportation fuel (displacing gasoline and diesel) by over 3600%.
Critically, a clean fuel standard can be implemented at no additional cost to the state, meanwhile creating the market to ensure long-term, sustainable financing to reach New York’s ambitious climate goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This is increasingly important while New York faces an economic downturn, which is estimated to cost the state $63 billion in revenue through 2024.
California has been the home to the rapidly growing clean transportation industry, supporting 300 companies and more than 20,000 jobs. In the next five years, California’s clean fuel standard could generate more than $2.5 billion for transportation electrification, including electrifying public transportation, marine ports, and school bus fleets. New York cannot afford to pass up this opportunity to restart the clean economy, address air pollution and climate change, and become a national leader in transportation electrification.
By including a clean fuel standard in the Senate and Assembly one-house budgets, the State Legislature can catalyze significant investment in clean transportation and create a safer, healthier New York.
Kevin Miller is the director of public policy at ChargePoint.
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January 23, 2021 at 04:51AM
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Why New York needs a clean fuel standard - Crain's New York Business
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