ZEV4Buffalo: Zero Emission Vehicles for Buffalo

This op-ed was originally published on buffalonews.com.

In October 2023, the New York City Council voted 47-0 in favor of the Zero Emission Vehicles for NYC Bill. The Bill is helping to usher in a changeover from internal combustion engine vehicles owned by NYC to zero emission vehicles.  

The Sierra Club Niagara Group has modeled a thirteen page ordinance for our own city based upon the NYC Bill.  

The NYC Bill and the City of Buffalo Ordinance are important because: Deploying EVs will reduce pollutants, improve air quality and the respiratory health of citizens, enhance urban livability by reducing noise, save Buffalo money, and make a strong contribution in Western New York in the fight against climate change.

In Buffalo, we already have our own successful model for fleet conversion. If the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s (NFTA) EPA grant proposal is accepted, 20 new Battery Electric Buses (BEB) will save them $327,144 per year in diesel costs. These same 20 BEBs would save $3,200 in annual health benefits in Erie County over the life of the BEBs.  These buses will reduce the base line carbon emissions released into the atmosphere almost 100 percent. This also helps to mitigate climate change. The project will positively impact some of the most economically and environmentally distressed neighborhoods, including several designated “Environmental Justice Communities” including Masten and the Peace Bridge Complex. 

The ZEV for Buffalo Ordinance is staged in three parts. The first stage targets light duty vehicles. The second stage targets midsized vehicles and the third stage targets large vehicles.  These changes are staggered over two year periods with deployment deadlines.          

There are several exceptions to the purchase of zero-emission vehicles: If the procurement cost of the zero-emission vehicle is 50% more than the lowest bid for a vehicle in the next least-pollutant category; if a Commissioner determines that the use of such vehicle would be impractical and; if a Commissioner determines the City lacks the charging and fueling infrastructure to support the use of the zero-emission vehicles. 

There are also economic effects including more jobs and increased economic investment in WNY. For instance: GM plans to invest $300 million in the Tonawanda Engine Plant to produce parts for electric vehicles. GM has set a 2035 deadline to shift all of its products to zero-emission electric vehicles. There are 900 workers at the plant.  

A $154 million investment is planned for the Lockport plant where they will produce electric vehicle stator modules for electric motors and generators are also planned. With NFTA’s fleet conversion, GM’s investments and the location of Viridi Parenti’s battery plant here, Buffalo is poised to attract more work in EV manufacturing.  

Fleet conversion has begun in NYC, NFTA and NYS school buses. Let’s put the City of Buffalo in the category of positive change and ask for their yes vote for ZEV for Buffalo. Call your Common Council member today.    


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