State Legislature Passes Electric Vehicles by 2035 Bill

Albany – S.2758/A.4302, sponsored by Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright and Senator Pete Harckham, has passed the New York State Senate. The bill had passed the Assembly last week and now heads to the Governor for his signature. The legislation directs the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish regulations to ensure that 100% 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.

Rachel Patterson, legislative and climate associate for Environmental Advocates NY said, “Electrification is the future. We have a real opportunity to reverse course and electrify the transportation sector, which opens the door to removing dirty tailpipes from our roads. Changing how we think about traveling from point A to point B is a necessary step in combatting the current climate crisis, and a highly effective method of cleaning up the air we breathe and creating a green economy. We applaud sponsors Englebright and Harckham, as well as legislative leadership, and look now to Governor Cuomo to sign this bill into law.”

Lisa Tyson, Director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition said, “We were instrumental in passing the nation’s most ambitious climate legislation two years ago, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Now the work begins to implement this bill and transition all sectors of our economy off fossil fuels. Our work in transportation begins today with the passage of the EV by 2035 bill, which will reduce emissions from the transportation sector by encouraging the public to act early in the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Long Island is a statewide leader in renewable energy and that will only continue as we make plans to convert to all electric vehicles.”

Source: Environmental Advocates NY