On April 26, S.2758/A.4302, sponsored by Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright and Senator Pete Harckham, passed the New York State Senate. The bill had passed the Assembly the week before and now heads to Governor Cuomo for his signature. The legislation directs the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish regulations to ensure that 100 percent of new passenger vehicles are electric by 2035 and that medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are electric by 2045. By doing so, the bill ensures a smooth and orderly process to fully electrify all vehicles in New York.
With more than 11 million vehicles registered in the state, the transportation sector is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in New York State, with much of that air pollution disproportionally affecting low-income communities and communities of color. As air pollution leads to higher cases of lung and cardiovascular disease, Black and brown communities have been hit hard by COVID-19, which is exacerbated by pre-existing conditions. This legislation will help New York achieve its climate goals that were adopted into law in 2019.
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