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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2003
PR- 103-03
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, EPA ADMINISTRATOR
 CHRISTIE TODD WHITMAN AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER
IRIS WEINSHALL ANNOUNCE NEW YORK CITY’S ACCEPTANCE
 INTO “CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM”

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christie Todd Whitman, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Iris Weinshall and U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary David Garman today announced that New York City has qualified to join the Department of Energy’s “Clean Cities” program, a public-private partnership formed a decade ago to reduce air pollution and the nation’s dependence on imported petroleum. The program promotes the use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels such as natural gas, ethanol and electricity.

 In order to qualify, cities must develop a program that includes private and public cooperation to reduce dependency on fossil fuel, and expand and promote the use of alternate sources of fuel.  New York City earned entrance into the program by creating the largest fleet of hybrid vehicles in the country and partnering with 38 private sector firms to increase the availability of alternative fuel.

“This designation is proof of New York City’s commitment to improving its air quality,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “By incorporating low emission and alternative fuel vehicles into our transportation system, we will significantly decrease levels of air pollutants, lower asthma rates and reduce our dependence on imported oil.”

“Though the federal government does a lot to protect our environment and improve the air, ultimately the success of our efforts depends on cities, communities, businesses, and millions of citizens making a choice everyday to do what's right for the environment,” said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman.  “New York City's commitment to cleaner air sets an important example for other cities to follow.”

“Cars, buses and trucks generate 71 percent of the New York metropolitan region’s carbon monoxide emissions, 53 percent of its ozone depleting smog and 70 percent of the toxic chemicals in the air,” Commissioner Weinshall said. “These figures are staggering and as the steward of the City’s transportation system, the DOT has an obligation to help bring them down.”

The DOT’s Alternative Fuels Program spearheaded the two-year effort to join the DOE program. In order to be accepted into the DOE program, the DOT collaborated with 38 partners from the private and public sectors that are working to develop local markets for alternative fuels. Those organizations include Con Edison Inc., KeySpan, the New York Power Authority, the New York Energy and Research Development Authority and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

“The New York City ‘Clean Cities Coalition’ has made great progress in promoting the use of alternative fuel and alternative fuel vehicles,” said U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary David Garman. “Their efforts to increase the use of domestically produced, cleaner burning fuels such as ethanol, natural gas, biodiesel, and electricity, are helping to reduce our nation's dependence on imported oil, strengthen energy security, and improve our environment.”

“KeySpan applauds the designation of New York City as a ‘Clean City,’” says Robert B. Catell, Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation.  “As a major energy company in the New York metropolitan area, we have long been proponents of cleaner energy and a healthier environment.  ‘CleanCities’ gives added impetus to our efforts to make wiser, more efficient energy choices.”

“NYSERDA, under the direction of Governor Pataki, is committed to improving the environment and the air we breathe,” said Peter R. Smith, acting president of NYSERDA.  “By promoting the use of alternative fuel vehicles, New York State is leading the way to cleaner air and energy independence. I want to thank the many partners that we have worked with over the years to introduce cleaner vehicles to the streets of New York.  With their support, New York City has the largest fleet of alternative fuel vehicles in the country, an achievement which is being recognized today by this designation.”

The City, through the DOT’s Alternative Fuels Program, already has made progress in adding alternative fuel vehicles into the transportation system. The City has the largest municipal fleet of hybrid electric vehicles in the nation, with 480 non-emergency vehicles, which reduce gasoline consumption by 50 percent.  Of the 1,289 buses operating in the City’s franchised bus program, 353 buses use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). There are also approximately 150 CNG medallion taxis operating in New York City In addition, the New York City Department of Sanitation operates 26 CNG compactor trucks, five CNG sweepers, 328 CNG light-duty vehicles and 350 light-duty vehicles that are powered by ethanol.  The City boasts 22 CNG refueling sites, 18 of which are public; one ethanol-refueling site and 20 electric rechargers.

Elsewhere in the City, the US Postal Service operates 22 electric vehicles and 207 CNG trucks and pumps over 60,000 gallons of biodiesel per month into their diesel-powered trucks.  The New York Power Authority operates the largest electric sedan commuter program with 100 vehicles operating in and around New York City. In addition, the State of New York is developing a comprehensive CNG fueling network for State vehicles. Finally, Bronx Community College is training its mechanics to maintain alternative fuel vehicles.


 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz 
(212) 788-2958
 
  Nina Habib Spencer (EPA) 
(212) 637-3670
 
  Tom Cocola  ( DOT )
(212) 442-7033