New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined 11 other governors from across the country, asking President Joe Biden to set the U.S. on a path to a zero-emission transportation future.
In a letter sent Wednesday, the governors asked the federal government to set standards that would require all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks are zero-emissions by 2035 and that all medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles are zero-emissions by 2045. The governors also asked for new electric vehicle tax credits, enhancements to existing electric vehicle tax credits, funding for state investments in charging and fueling infrastructure, and other reforms.
“As bipartisan Governors from across the country, we strongly support your efforts to improve public health, tackle the climate crisis, and advance environmental justice. Central to all three of these goals is greatly reducing pollution from the transportation sector. By establishing a clear regulatory path to ensuring that all vehicles sold in the United States are zero-emission, we can finally clear the air and create high-road jobs. Moving quickly towards a zero-emission transportation future will protect the health of all communities. The proposed investments in the American Jobs Plan can be leveraged even further by a strong regulatory framework and will allow the market for American-made zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) to flourish,” the governors wrote.
Noting the work done by states already towards zero-emissions, the governors also asked that the administration restore scientifically based greenhouse gas emissions standards to replace the standards from the previous administration, as well as affirming that states have the authority to follow vehicle emissions standards set by California if they choose to do so.
The governors wrote in the letter that setting the standards would incentivize consumers to purchase electric vehicles and incentivize manufacturers to build them, creating jobs and increasing American global competitiveness.
“More than 24 states have worked together to defend the stringency of clean car standards over the past four years, and fifteen states plus the District of Columbia are already collaborating on an MOU to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The environmental and economic benefits of this leadership are significant: For instance, 34 ZEV manufacturers providing 70,000 Californian jobs are producing what has become the state’s number one export,” the governors wrote. “From China to the European Union, a race has begun to lead the zero-emission manufacturing revolution. As a result, many automakers have made bold commitments to manufacture solely ZEVs in the near future. With bold federal leadership, American workers will lead the way in designing, building, and driving clean and affordable vehicles. Strong support of ZEVs is also fundamental to keeping America competitive in the global marketplace.”