New York is following in California’s footsteps, taking drastic steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Empire State will completely ban the purchase of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
“With continued state and federal investment, our actions are encouraging New Yorkers, local governments and businesses to transition to electric vehicles. We are advancing New York’s transition to clean transportation, and today’s announcement will benefit our climate and the health of our communities for generations to come,” said Governor Cathy Hochul. statement describes the new policy directive.
The regulatory move will bring New York closer to itself state purpose 85% reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2050.
According to the report, transportation accounted for 28% of New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions State report for 2021— injection of 106.92 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere during one year. The transition to electric vehicles should significantly reduce these emissions, given that the electricity grid is also moving away from fossil fuels.
Hochul held a press conference Thursday morning with the Chevy Bolt in White Plains, where he announced his plans for a future gas-free New York. The regulation will come into force gradually.
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First, by 2026, 35% of all new light vehicles sold in the state will be required to be electric. Then, by 2030, this percentage will increase to 68%, and by 2035 to 100%. New pollution standards for gas-powered vehicles produced between 2026 and 2034 also accompany the EV mandates.
Additional related policies include transitioning to an all-electric school bus fleet in New York City by 2035 and increased financial support for both individuals and municipalities looking to purchase EVs. The state is adding $10 million Driver Clean Discount program that offers an incentive of up to $2,000 (on top of the federal tax credit Up to $7,500) to encourage and help people buy electric cars. New York has already issued more than 78,000 concessions statewide, Hochul said.
“You no longer have an excuse” not to buy an EV, Hochul said. “We are not going down that dead end street [of gas vehicles] already.” Although the initial costs of buying an EV are still relatively high, this cost fallsand some estimates, electricity in the long run cars are cheap to hold and own relative to their gas counterparts.
California entered into force similar policy in August, but Hochul wasn’t content to let West Coast take all the credit. The governor drew attention to him signed the gas ban goal in 2021. But he said, “He had to wait for California to step up because there’s some federal requirement that California go first — that’s the only time we let them go first.”
In addition to reducing CO2, switching from gas-powered cars to EVs can have public health benefits across the state. “Westchester is a no-notice zone for the Clean Air Act,” state Sen. Pete Harkham said at a news conference Thursday, emphasizing the local benefits of curbing burning vehicles. It is air pollution fatal and debilitating. And in New York, there is car exhaust one of the biggest contributors.
At a time when we desperately need gas-powered cars and fossil fuels, New York’s announcement is exciting. to die. Unfortunately, personal EVs aren’t necessarily a perfect fix. There are unresolved questions about what the current supply will look like necessary materials like lithium, copper, and rare earth metals will be able to meet the growing demand. And all this mining comes with environmental costs, even if they are less existentially pressing than climate change itself. Unfortunately, Hochul’s announcement did not address additional state funding expansion of public transport.