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.
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.
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
61,000
public EV charging stations in the US
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.
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.
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.
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Take ActionWASHINGTON, DC- Days before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA) will issue an interim final rule on Thursday to delay stiffer penalties for new cars and trucks that violate minimum fuel-economy standards. Under the Obama Administration, NHTSA had adjusted the fines for inflation–from $5.50 to $14.00—for the first time in nearly two decades, making the increase applicable to model year 2019 vehicles.
DENVER, CO - Yesterday, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a decision that approves Xcel Energy’s $110 million transportation electrification plan, a three-year effort to deploy up to 20,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at residential, commercial, and public sites in Colorado and support vehicle electrification through rebates, advisory services and research projects.
WASHINGTON DC- Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will finalize standards for greenhouse gas emissions from new aircraft that take effect in 2028. The rule copies international standards from 2016 that set a greenhouse gas emissions floor for aircraft flying international routes at levels a decade behind what aircraft could already do in 2016. Aviation is among the fastest growing sources of climate pollution, yet EPA’s final rule will have no impact at all on greenhouse gas emissions.
NORTHEAST– Four jurisdictions - Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC - have signed onto a final memorandum of understanding for the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P), a cap-and-invest program for reducing transportation emissions in the Northeast.
Saint Paul, MN – Today, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced it will publish its draft Clean Car Standards on Monday, which would require new cars sold in the state to emit less climate-disrupting pollution. The rule also regulates that an increasing percentage of new cars sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles.
WASHINGTON, DC– Today, it was reported that President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Pete Buttigieg to serve as secretary of the Department of Transportation. If confirmed, Buttigieg will be the first openly LGBTQ Cabinet Secretary.
Today, the Sierra Club announced its support for the Tennessee Valley Authority announcement that it will be taking steps to promote the widespread adoption of electric vehicles throughout its seven-state service region.
Lansing, MI - Despite a coalition of 15 stakeholders opposing the bill, the Michigan House passed HB 6233 on Wednesday, legislation that would stifle the state’s ability to reach its climate goals by banning electric vehicle manufacturers from providing direct sales and service on their products. The Senate is expected to consider the bill this week.
Washington, D.C. – The leaders of four of America’s largest and most influential environmental and science organizations – Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and Union of Concerned Scientists – are jointly calling on eight automakers to withdraw from a Trump administration lawsuit challenging state clean car authority, and instead lead America toward the clean cars of the future.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, following Donald Trump’s defeat three weeks ago, General Motors withdrew its support for the Trump administration's attack on California's clean car standards after a year of pressure from environmental, clean air, consumer and faith advocates.
