New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city has completed its transition of 12,500 heavy-duty and off-road vehicles to renewable diesel, making it the first major East Coast city to do so. This shift will prevent 162 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually and serves as a bridge technology until electric alternatives are available. The initiative aims to reduce emissions from New York City’s transportation sector, with efforts supported by various city agencies including the NYPD, FDNY, and DSNY, all in pursuit of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Mayor Adams Announces Full City Fleet has Completed Transition to Renewable Diesel
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina today announced 100 percent of the city’s 12,500 heavy-duty and off-road vehicles have completed the transition to renewable diesel, making New York City the first major East Coast city to implement this green technology at such a large scale. The transition will prevent 162 million pounds of global carbon dioxide emissions from entering the air every year, and it will serve as an important bridge fuel as viable electric versions of these vehicles are developed and placed into the market.
“Building a safer city also means protecting New Yorkers from the dangers posed by carbon emissions and climate change,” said Mayor Adams. “Transitioning our entire heavy-duty fleet to renewable diesel is an important step on our path to carbon neutrality and a clear indication of our commitment to a cleaner, greener New York City.”
“This achievement reflects the Adams administration’s unwavering focus on tackling climate change and advancing innovative solutions. By transitioning our fleet to renewable diesel, we are reducing emissions, improving air quality, and solidifying New York City as a national leader in sustainable practices,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I am proud of our administration for successfully implementing ambitious policy changes and building a healthier, more resilient city for all New Yorkers.”
“In our quest to make New York the greenest big city in the country, we have to be the change we wish to see,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Completing the transition to renewable diesel puts our fleet ahead of the pack, as we work towards electrification of our school buses and taxis. The message is clear: In the war against climate change, there are no deferments. We will all need to do our part.”
“Today marks a significant milestone in New York City’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, and I could not be more proud of the team for getting this done for our city,” said DCAS Commissioner Molina. “The transition of our fleet to renewable diesel epitomizes our dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and setting a new national standard for fleet greening initiatives. By replacing conventional diesel, and through our continuous work to transition from gas to electric cars, we are eliminating harmful emissions from our air and paving the way for a cleaner, healthier New York City for all who call it home.”
“The men and women of the NYPD are proud to help advance the city’s goal of minimizing our collective carbon footprint through the implementation of smart and energy-efficient solutions,” said Interim New York City Police Department Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon. “Reducing life cycle greenhouse gas emissions is truly one of the best ways we can serve New Yorkers.”
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is the FDNY’s top priority,” said Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Robert Tucker. “Now, thanks to renewable diesel, we’re able to do that more efficiently and with less impact on the environment, without any impact on fire and medical operations. The FDNY is proud to be fully compliant, with renewable diesel in all of our firetrucks and ambulances. That’s a win for the city, and a win for the environment.”
“DSNY is the largest user of renewable diesel among city agencies,” said New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “By powering our collection trucks and snow equipment with renewable diesel, New York’s Strongest are playing a critical role in keeping our city clean, both in the streets and in the air.”
“The transportation sector is responsible for nearly 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in our city, but that means it can also be a key part of the solution. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels offers a key step towards a greener and healthier New York City,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Transitioning the city’s heavy-duty vehicle fleet to renewable diesel shows that the city is leading by example and is finding new ways to reduce its carbon footprint.”
“This transition is a huge step forward as we work to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,” said New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner and Chief Climate Officer Rohit Aggarwala. “While full electrification remains our goal, getting the city’s fleet off of polluting fossil fuels makes New York a safer place for all of our residents to live because it cuts the net greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. When we all work together to green our vehicles, decarbonize our buildings, and build a more sustainable food system, we can achieve our climate goals faster, showing the rest of the country how it can and should be done.”
“New York City is committed to fully electrifying our transportation, our infrastructure, and our buildings — both in the private sector and when it comes to city government operations,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “This is a truly ambitious commitment, and we need to take the challenge on from all sides. That means using viable technology to electrify what we can in the short term when it comes to passenger cars and fossil fuel-fired heating systems in our buildings, while using bridge technologies like renewable fuels when electric options aren’t available. That includes some infrastructure, portfolios of buildings that require significant capital planning to electrify, and heavy-duty vehicles like snowplows and ambulances that serve New Yorkers.”
“In September 2023, the City of New York became the first city to transition to renewable diesel on the East Coast of the United States,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and New York City Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “Mayor Adams set a goal for all agencies to switch out their dirty fossil diesel at in-house fuel sites, and we got it done. All agencies are now reducing carbon and tailpipe emissions with cleaner renewable diesel, helping DCAS meet our 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction target by 2025. In fact, this winter, all DSNY trucks used renewable diesel exclusively during the cold and snow season. New York City stands ready to electrify these vehicles when there are market solutions, and we are collaborating with vehicle manufacturers to fast-track a robust electric vehicle market.”
Since the start of the transition in September 2023, renewable diesel has replaced more than 12 million gallons of fossil diesel, and already has been used to power the city’s fleet of garbage trucks, ambulances, work trucks, emergency generators, and more. Renewable diesel can reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60 percent compared to regular diesel, all while meeting the same operating specifications as regular diesel. Unlike biodiesel, which is limited to use in blends of five percent to 20 percent with regular diesel, renewable diesel can be used as a full replacement of fossil diesel while still delivering the same environmental benefits as biodiesel.
Today’s announcement builds on the city’s efforts to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. In April 2024, the administration won $77 million in federal grants to electrify 180 school buses and build a first-in-the-nation electric truck charging depot at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center. In May 2024, DCAS released its Clean Fleet Update, highlighting that the city had surpassed 5,000 plug-in electric vehicles and installed 2,000 electric charging port. To date, over 70 percent of the city’s fleet — more than 21,000 fleet units — now use sustainable fuels, including electric, hybrid electric, solar, and biofuel vehicles. In August, the administration won a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to build the nation’s largest curbside electric vehicle charging program. Additionally, the city has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to make it easier for New Yorkers to use more sustainable modes of transportation. That includes expanding Fair Fares for half-priced subway fares and creating a similar program for the NYC Ferry, building record levels of bike lane mileage and a historic expansion of the city’s outer-borough greenway network, advancing generational transit-oriented housing development projects, and more.
“Today we make historic progress by completing the transition of our city fleet from fossil fuel to renewable diesel — a critical step to address the climate crisis,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “The only way to avert a future of adverse weather, overwhelmed food systems, rising sea levels, and mass extinction is to take bold steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Our initiative is the largest implementation of renewable diesel on the East Coast. It transitions 12,500 vehicles and other equipment to clean fuel, replacing 16 million gallons of fossil fuel. This will reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 162 million pounds each year, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of about 5,000 people. I look forward to continuing to partner with Mayor Adams to set the standard of excellence for environmental justice in our city and state.”
“I commend Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Louis A. Molina for their decision to transition 100 percent of New York City’s 12,500 heavy-duty and off-road vehicles to renewable diesel,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “This crucial step will not only reduce air pollution but also protect the health of our residents and safeguard our environment. By taking this bold action, we are demonstrating our commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all New Yorkers.”
“Severe weather events fueled by climate change have already negatively impacted Queens in many ways, so it is great that the city has taken such a major step to address this crisis by reducing its carbon footprint,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “I’m proud that New York City has become a recognized leader in the effort to combat climate change. Innovative solutions like this are what we need if we are to successfully limit global warming.”
October 3, 2024 NY City Hall Manhattan New York
Questions from Critics (Republicans):
- How will the increased costs of renewable diesel impact the city’s budget and taxpayers?
- Has the city fully evaluated the economic implications of transitioning to renewable diesel, especially concerning small businesses and logistics?
- Could renewable diesel availability create dependency on external suppliers, potentially affecting energy security?
Questions from Supporters (Democrats):
- What additional measures is the city taking to expedite the full electrification of its vehicle fleet?
- Are there plans to extend renewable diesel usage to private transportation services like taxis and ride-shares?
- How will this transition contribute to improving air quality in underprivileged neighborhoods most affected by pollution?
Sources: NY City Hall NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune news
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