Coalition uses Zoom animated video to educate lawmakers at virtual lobby day
Albany, NY – January 28, 2021 – On Thursday, January 28, members of the Clean Fuels NY Coalition held a lobby day to meet with legislators urging them to support a clean fuel standard in the budget. To accommodate the virtual setting of the lobby day, the Coalition released a video to explain how a clean fuel standard would benefit the state.
A clean fuel standard requires transportation fuel suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the fuels they make and sell. High polluting fuel providers purchase credits from low carbon fuel suppliers, including those using electric vehicles and renewable fuels.
It would create a dependable market for clean fuels and technologies that are essential to reaching the state’s goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of reducing emissions 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050.
Transportation is the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York and is one of the only segments of the economy that has increased pollution. The transportation sector is responsible for 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State.
“New York needs to prioritize reducing transportation emissions, starting with implementing a clean fuel standard. This has the potential to generate billions of dollars for clean fuels providers and will reduce air pollution for our most vulnerable communities, all at no cost to the state. We cannot rely on fossil fuels that continue to pollute our air and put vulnerable communities at risk,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
“The simple truth is we are not on track to achieve NY’s climate law mandates without real changes to transportation. A clean fuel standard will provide sustainable funding and attract the clean car industry to New York to invest in charging infrastructure and electric vehicles. This is the framework we need to make that happen,” said Anne Reynolds, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York.
"Utilizing net-carbon-negative fuels, like renewable natural gas produced from animal manure and food waste, is a crucial lever in reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and meeting our nation’s obligations under the Paris Climate Accord. New York energy companies stand ready to produce these clean fuels that can slash transportation emissions while creating jobs and driving economic growth," said Zeina El-Azzi, Chief Development Officer, Brightmark.
"A clean fuel standard will expand electric vehicle adoption and will reduce transportation emissions while spurring investment in resilient, renewable energy. Adopting a clean fuel standard is a powerful climate action tool for New York and will support measurable and predictable emission reduction targets while achieving other important policy goals, like EV infrastructure," said Ashley P. Beaty, Vice President of Partnerships, BTR Energy.
"A clean fuel standard is a critical piece of the puzzle in New York's push to lead on clean transportation. CALSTART joins our partners in the Clean Fuels NY coalition to call on State leaders to enact a clean fuel standard in 2021. In so doing, we can accelerate the transition to clean, low-carbon, and zero-emission transportation resources that will foster healthier communities statewide," said Benjamin Mandel, Northeast Regional Director at CALSTART.
“By adopting a clean fuel standard, New York can make significant progress toward electrifying the transportation sector and achieving the ambitious goals set in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This legislation would unlock new streams of capital investment in electric vehicle charging at no additional cost to the state budget. It will also create opportunities to develop new funding streams to provide access to electric transportation for all New Yorkers, whether they drive or ride the bus,” said Kevin George Miller, Director, Public Policy, ChargePoint.
“Clean Communities of CNY, a US Department of Energy Outreach/Education program focused on clean transportation, urges New York State to adopt a clean fuel standard. This will fund renewable fuel projects, create jobs and tax revenue; while assisting the State in meeting its' ambitious zero-emission vehicle efforts,” said Barry Carr, Clean Cities Coordinator at Clean Communities of CNY.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to bring tangible air quality improvements to environmental justice communities, we recently opened a renewable natural gas (RNG) station in the South Bronx. This station provides the lowest carbon fuel to trucks that produce virtually no NOx emissions, immediately reducing resident’s exposure to harmful pollutants,” said Mark Riley, Vice President, Canada and Eastern US, Clean Energy Fuels.
"This past year has presented us with a unique challenge to rebuild our businesses and communities in ways that are better, cleaner and more sustainable for the future. At Lyft, we are leading by example -- committing to reach 100% EVs on our platform by 2030 -- and a clean fuel standard in New York will help propel us toward our goal," said Sam Arons, Director of Sustainability, Lyft.
“A low carbon fuel standard would mean many good paying jobs for New York. We would hire engineers and skilled labor to build our facilities in NY that create clean renewable energy from waste products like dairy manure,” said Paul Greene, Director of Project Development at Montrose Environmental.
“Neste is a global leader in making low emission, renewable heavy transportation fuels from waste materials like used cooking oil instead of from crude oil. The benefits are clear - our renewable fuels kept nearly 40 million tons of CO2 equivalent out of the atmosphere over the past five years and contributed to cleaner air for people to breathe. Alongside the climate benefits, Neste is supporting America’s food and hospitality industry by purchasing their used cooking oil to make renewable fuels - including from nearly 300 restaurants in New York,” says Jeremy Baines, President of Neste U.S.
"New York Farm Bureau is hopeful a clean fuel standard can be included in the final New York State budget. It would prove to be an opportunity for farms to invest in biofuels and on-farm methane reduction technology. The result would be lower agricultural emissions and increased economic development for rural communities across the state," said Elizabeth Wolters, New York Farm Bureau Deputy Public Policy Director.
“Climate change is cumulative: the longer we wait, the harder it gets to solve. A New York State clean fuel standard program promoting the use of the cleanest fuels will jump-start that transition to cleaner heavy-duty transportation solutions. Investing in commercially available natural gas vehicles (NGVs) fueled by RNG is the most cost-effective and immediate climate positive change policymakers can affect,” said Daniel Gage, President of NGV America.
“Adoption of a Clean Fuel standard would accelerate the implementation of anaerobic digestion on dairy farms throughout New York state. Anaerobic digestion combines use of a really great technology with locally produced resources to achieve sustainable outcomes in line with New York state goals. We would be creating jobs, sustaining farms, protecting the environment by limiting runoff and reducing emissions, and tackling a significant source of pollution in our suburban and urban areas at little to no cost to New York state,” said Chris Noble, Vice President, Noblehurst Farms.
“A clean fuel standard will help secure New York's place as a leader in environmental protection and sustainability while supporting family dairy farms across the state and their ongoing work as stewards of the land. This measure would incentivize the utilization of anaerobic digesters on dairy farms that can harvest clean renewable natural gas. This is a win-win for all of New York State, and NEDPA urges the Legislature to support this measure,” said John Dickinson, Chair, Northeast Dairy Producers Association.
“Rivian supports the Clean Fuels New York Coalition and its efforts to establish a Clean Fuels Standard (“CFS”) in New York. A CFS will reduce transportation emissions and increase the adoption rate of electric vehicles necessary for New York to meet its environmental and public health goals. A properly implemented CFS would be no cost to the state and help reduce the cost of driving electric in New York,” said Chris Nevers, Director, Environmental Engineering and Policy, Rivian.
“We at ROUSH Clean Tech are committed to advanced transportation solutions- as evidenced by our new BEV truck and decades of experience in clean propane. Partnerships with New York decision-makers will provide the opportunity for our technologies to benefit those in marginalized communities living with disproportionally high levels of air pollution,” said Chelsea Jenkins, VP of Government and Industry Relations, ROUSH Clean Tech.
Clean Fuels NY Coalition
The Clean Fuels NY Coalition is a group of leading environmental, public health and energy groups led by the New York League of Conservation Voters, formed to demonstrate the diverse support for a clean fuel standard across industries.