Local Clean Energy And Climate Advocates Launch Petition Delivery from Over 7,000 New Yorkers to Governor Cuomo

Rush, NY - This morning, in front of EV Charge Solutions, an electric vehicle equipment distributor, local business leaders and clean energy advocates joined the Sierra Club to call on Governor Cuomo to adopt a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles 55% by 2035 and bid farewell to a Sierra Club activist driving to Albany in an electric vehicle for a petition delivery to Governor Cuomo on Thursday.

Transportation accounts for 36 percent of New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with vehicles accounting for the majority. The petition calls on Governor Cuomo to commit to reducing emissions from on-road passenger vehicles 55% by 2035 in his 2020 State of the State. 

Electrified transportation is already creating jobs in the Rochester Region, from companies like EV Charge Solutions selling charging stations to the installation jobs building out electric vehicle infrastructure. Monroe County has more electric vehicles than any other upstate county. This transition to clean transportation is funding long-term investments in the Rochester Region, with residents charging their vehicles on local clean energy like wind and solar instead of importing gasoline from outside the state. 

This event in the Rochester Region is one of several launch events for a "Get Set, Go Green!" relay this week, where people from across New York, including Buffalo, Long Island, Rochester, the Lower Hudson, New York City and Plattsburgh, are traveling to Albany on multiple modes of low-carbon transportation to deliver the petition using minimal carbon footprint.

“The Rochester Region is already making significant developments in electrifying transportation to the benefit of local communities, but New York is still missing a statewide target to reduce emissions from our most polluting sector. Residents from across the state are calling on Governor Cuomo to set a North Star to tackle transportation,” said David Alicea, a New York Lead Organizing Representative with the Sierra Club. 

“EV Charge Solutions is excited to be involved in the rapidly growing clean transportation industry. We have realized steady growth since our beginnings in 2012 which parallels the industry. In fact, our staff has more than doubled since we moved to Monroe County two years ago,” said Mike Moser of EV Charge Solutions.

"Greater Rochester Clean Cities is pleased to be a partner with the Sierra Club in the "Get Set, Go Green" clean transportation relay. This initiative clearly demonstrates the alternatives available in clean transportation today. This effort is closely aligned with the mission of our Clean Cities program and we are proud to support it,” said David Keefe, coordinator of Greater Rochester Clean Cities.

“Rochester People’s Climate Coalition has long recognized that emissions from cars are one of the leading sources of pollution in our region and the country. A rapid transition to electric vehicles is a key solution to tackling climate change while also saving consumers money because of lower fuel, repair, and maintenance costs,” said Tim McGowan, on behalf of Rochester People’s Climate Coalition.

"We need the support of state-level policies to galvanize localities and energize residents to undertake investments needed to reach the overall targets for a livable future," said Barbara Gross, Electric School Bus Campaign Coordinator for Mothers Out Front.