March 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, several environmental organizations moved to intervene to defend the Biden administration’s new clean car standards.
Clean Transportation
Clean Transportation
Revolutionizing our transportation systems is a crucial piece of Sierra Club's work to ensure we all can live in healthy communities, move around safely, and build a future powered by renewable energy.
What is clean transportation?
Cleaning up our transportation sector means giving everyone the opportunity to get around in the way that works best for them and the planet. Together, we can tackle the climate crisis and protect the air we breathe by shifting to pollution-free electric vehicles, increasing accessible and affordable public transit, and making our communities safer for walking and biking.
Over the lifetime of the vehicle, a gas car puts out 4.5x more carbon pollution and infinitely more toxic tailpipe air pollution than an electric car.
Why is clean transportation essential?
We all want to breathe clean air and protect our families from toxic pollution and climate change. Unfortunately, transportation is currently our nation's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of air pollution. To build a livable future, we must shift away from combustion vehicles and towards clean transportation.
Right now, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to make it harder to drive clean cars, which will increase how much money you spend at the pump. We can stop them, but we need your help to protect clean transportation options.
$5B
utility investments for EVs
61,000
public EV charging stations in the US
The transition to electric vehicles will not happen if people cannot reliably and conveniently charge their vehicles at affordable costs
The Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign is at the forefront of advocating for EV-related utility policies that accelerate the EV transition and deliver on the promises of the clean energy economy: lower overall energy bills, more jobs, and cleaner air and water. Read more.
Victory!
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act -- the largest clean energy and climate legislation in history -- and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, cities and towns across the United States are getting funding to invest in clean transportation, including building more electric vehicle charging stations, transitioning public transit buses and school buses to zero-emission, and more.
As of now, the tax credits funded by the Inflation Reduction Act are still in effect, despite the best efforts of anti-environment politicians. These federal incentives can be used to purchase new or used electric vehicles, and can be combined with state, local, and utility provider incentives. These opportunities differ depending on where you live, so be sure to visit electricforall.org/rebates-incentives to learn exactly what’s available in your area.
What We Are Doing
Sierra Club North Star chapter with partners at a Minnesota House Hearing pushing for transit equity.
The Sierra Club is working across the country to make clean transportation options a reality. We're advocating for policies like clean car standards that have been passed in 13 states plus Washington, DC to cut pollution from our communities. And we're holding automakers accountable for offering more and affordable electric vehicles.
Going electric is just the start. In the shift to EVs, we should not replicate harmful practices in the mining industry. We're pushing automakers to respect human rights and radically transform their supply chains to be equitable, sustainable, and 100% fossil free.
We're also reducing our car dependence by advocating for reliable public transit, safe infrastructure for walking and biking, and more housing near where people work, learn, and play. This means urging local transit fleets to shift to electric buses. Cities like New York City, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque and many others are already leading the way!
Together, we can re-envision how we move around in a way that works for people and the planet.
What You Can Do
Tell your Members of Congress: Protect Funding for Clean School Buses!
Urge your members of Congress to keep the Clean School Bus Program in the budget package and demand the Trump administration release frozen funds for clean school bus funds.
21% complete
Take Action
Press Releases
23 de febrero de 2022
El Servicio postal finalizó hoy su controversial plan de adquirir vehículos de combustión interna para el 90% de su parque móvil, una afronta directa a los compromisos climáticos de la administración Biden.
February 23, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Postal Service finalized its controversial plan to purchase 90 percent gas-powered mail trucks for its fleet, a direct affront to the Biden administration’s climate commitments.
February 21, 2022
LANSING, MI - Today, the Sierra Club released a report of independent modeling and analysis of decarbonization pathways for Michigan’s transportation sector. The report calls on Michigan to ensure 100 percent electric vehicle sales and reduce driving overall by 2035 in order for the state to reach its climate goals and protect communities from toxic air pollution from vehicles.
February 9, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Biden’s Department of Transportation and Department of Energy announced $5 billion towards a program that aims to build out a network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers across the nation, an investment out of the recently passed infrastructure law.
February 8, 2022
LEBANON, TN - Today, President Biden announced that Tritium, an Australia-based electric vehicle charger manufacturer, will open its first U.S. facility in Lebanon, Tennessee. This facility will produce up to 30,000 DC Fast Chargers each year and create 500 local jobs.
February 4, 2022
For the fifth year, grassroots transit rider groups, environmental, climate justice, civil rights, disability, and faith organizations, and transit workers unions, will organize actions across the country to recognize transit equity as a civil right.
2 de febrero de 2022
El Washington Post informa hoy que la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA) y el Consejo de Calidad Ambiental de la Casa Blanca enviaron hoy cartas al Servicio Postal urgiendo a la agencia a que reconsidere sus planes de comprar un 90% de vehículos de combustión interna en su próxima adquisición.
February 2, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - On the heels of advocacy from environmental groups and California air quality regulators, the Washington Post reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) sent letters to the Postal Service today urging the agency to reconsider its plans to buy 90 percent gas-powered vehicles in its next vehicle purchase and to conduct a new, more thorough technical analysis.
January 26, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, Sierra Club hosted a video projection on the front of Walter E. Washington Convention Center during the Washington, DC Auto Show. The projection calls out Toyota’s greenwashing of their dirty vehicle fleet. The projection can be viewed here.