Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Boston, MA -- Yesterday, the Sierra Club, MassPIRG and Green Energy Consumers Alliance released the following statement after the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) unveiled the first of five electric buses on the Silver Line. The announcement comes as MBTA is working on an electric bus feasibility report to identify garages and bus routes most suited for electric bus deployment. However, the decision to test these buses for two years while continuing to procure fossil fuel buses will further delay the transition to a clean, equitable transportation future.
“Yesterday’s announcement was a significant step in the right direction. We commend MBTA on deploying the first electric buses to run through Chelsea, an environmental justice community,” said Massachusetts Sierra Club Chapter Director, Deb Pasternak. “In order to meet our climate goals and safeguard our future, today can only be the first step towards a transportation system led by clean energy, not pollution. A speedier transition to a zero emission fleet is crucial for improving public health and lowering emissions. We look forward to working with the MBTA to grow their electric bus fleet.”
"The MBTA took a positive step by putting it's new zero-emissions, all-electric buses into service yesterday,” Matt Casale, Staff Attorney at MassPIRG. “But that's just the first step in a process we should be accelerating with urgency. Getting to school or commuting to work shouldn’t include a daily dose of toxic pollution, or increase the chances that people will get sick. And why would we continue to use fossil fuel buses -- which our tax dollars pay for -- if they are making the climate crisis worse? We hope to see the MBTA commit to a swift timeline for full fleet electrification and continue to purchase and integrate into service more electric buses immediately."
“We commend the MBTA for introducing these buses to the fleet, since electrification is essential to combating climate change and improving air quality,” says Eugenia Gibbons, Policy Director at Green Energy Consumers Alliance. “However, we cannot afford to delay further deployment of truly clean buses. 100s more in the MBTA fleet still run on diesel fuel.As these are phased out, the MBTA should ditch diesel altogether and replace aging vehicles with battery electric buses.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About MassPIRG
MASSPIRG is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. MASSPIRG is part of The Public Interest Network. The Public Interest Network runs organizations committed to our vision of a better world, a set of core values, and a strategic approach to getting things done. For more information, visit www.masspirg.org.
About Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Green Energy Consumers Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization whose mission is to harness the power of energy users to speed the transition to a low carbon future. Since 1982, Green Energy Consumers Alliance has been dedicated to making energy affordable and environmentally sustainable. We administer programs designed to make green energy choices as simple as possible for individuals, businesses, and communities. We also advocate on behalf of consumers, including more than 20,000 members in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and the environment for state-level policy solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least 80% by 2050 affordably and equitably. To learn more about our programs and our work, visit www.greenenergyconsumers.org.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.