The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in New York. We need a multi-pronged approach that will cut these emissions as soon as possible. A Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) will do just that, by incentivizing the production of cleaner, low-carbon fuels that can power our current vehicles and aircraft now while accelerating the transition to electric vehicles in years to come.
Even with aggressive electrification, combustion engine vehicles will be on our roads for decades. A CFS will offer clean fuels to power these vehicles while expanding access to EVs and their infrastructure.
New York sees some of the worst air pollution in the country, and people of color in New York breathe 66% more air pollution from vehicles on average than their white counterparts. A CFS will immediately reduce air pollution, with specific funding dedicated to disadvantaged communities who have borne the brunt of pollution for too long.
A clean fuel standard is a critical policy tool to scale up clean fuels and help meet New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). As New York implements its cap-and-invest program, a CFS will complement it by helping to stabilize fuel pricing and reduce the likelihood of unexpected energy price volatility from cap-and-invest.