NASHVILLE, TN - This week, the Tennessee General Assembly is convening for a three-day special legislative session to discuss a $884 million economic package to support a $5.6 billion investment at Ford’s new Memphis Regional Megasite. The auto manufacturer has announced it will open four new factories in Kentucky and Tennessee. Three of the plants, to be built with SK Innovation, would produce batteries for electric vehicles. The fourth plant would make the Ford F-150 Lightning, an all-electric pickup truck.
- SIERRA CLUB FEDERAL POLICY TEAM *** Sierra Club policy staff and campaign leadership are available to discuss our clean transportation priorities in the Build Back Better Act ***
BOSTON, MA - Yesterday, Governor Baker appointed the seven-member Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors, with Betsy Taylor as the new chair. This new, permanent Board of Directors will oversee the MBTA’s finances, operations, governance, and overall management. It replaces the temporary Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) established by the Baker administration following the harsh winter of 2015 that disrupted transit service.
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the executives of several auto manufacturers, including Toyota, Honda and others, sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi opposing Representative Dan Kildee’s popular amendment, supported by environmental groups, labor unions, and major automakers, to expand the federal electric vehicle tax credit. The group has also launched a digital ad campaign opposing the proposed tax credit.
MIDWEST (MI, MN, IL, WI, IN)- Today, the governors of Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana released a joint commitment to medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification through the creation of a Regional Electric Vehicle (REV) Midwest Coalition Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
BOSTON, MA - Today, Streetsblog Massachusetts released a story on a newly launched report from the Sierra Club, TransitMatters, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy- supported by 14 partner organizations- calling on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the eighth largest transit agency in the nation, to commit to 100 percent electrification of its transit bus fleet by 2030.
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz will join representatives and supporters from environmental and faith organizations representing millions of people to deliver over 200,000 comments to EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt the strongest rule possible for federal clean car standards.
NATIONWIDE—Electric vehicles (EVs) will take the spotlight during the 11th annual National Drive Electric Week, with more than 204 in-person and online events in 43 states, as well as Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand, September 25–October 3, 2021. Attendees will have the opportunity to test drive various models of EVs, talk to EV owners, see vehicles on display, and learn about the latest in EV technology.
WASHINGTON, DC - Early Wednesday morning, after a markup that lasted over 15 hours, House Democrats, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, moved a historic package through committee. The package makes significant investments in cleaning up the transportation sector, a sector responsible for emitting the most climate-disrupting emissions in the nation and contributing to dangerous air quality in communities. Highlights:
WASHINGTON, DC - On Friday, House Democrats in the Ways and Means Committee unveiled plans for an array of clean energy tax incentives, including new incentives to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the US.One incentive is a $7,500 point-of-sale consumer rebate, with an additional $4,500 for vehicles assembled by union workers and $500 for vehicles using batteries manufactured in the US. The package also includes a used EV tax credit.