MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION PROMOTING FUEL EFFICIENCY, CLEANER FUEL AND UPGRADED ENGINES IN THE CITY’S FLEET OF VEHICLES

Remarks by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws 

“The five bills before me today further our Administration’s goal of achieving the cleanest air of any large city in the United States through promoting fuel efficiency, cleaner fuels, and upgraded engines. 

“The first is Introductory Number 218-A, which is sponsored by Council Members Koppell, Chin, Comrie, Fidler, Foster, Gentile, Lander, Nelson, Levin, Gennaro, Vallone, Brewer and Eugene. Currently FDNY ambulances must run their engines when idling in order to continuously operate life-saving equipment and provide electrical power. Although essential in ensuring EMS equipment runs properly, this constant energy output results in a lower fuel economy for these vehicles. This legislation codifies an FDNY pilot program scheduled to begin this Fall where auxiliary power units in ambulances will be used to provide cooling, heating, and electrical power while the vehicle’s engine is turned off. Following the pilot, a report will be issued by the Department detailing the performance of the pilot and a cost-benefit analysis of equipping the entire ambulance fleet with these auxiliary power units.

“Introductory Number 1061-A, sponsored by Council Members Gennaro, Levin, Eugene, Fidler, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Palma, Richards, Chin, Gentile, Vallone, and Brewer codifies our Administration’s policy to purchase environmentally-friendly vehicles and biodiesel fuels. This bill requires that at least five percent biodiesel fuel be used for all diesel-fuel powered vehicles operated by a City Agency, and in 2016, at least twenty percent biodiesel fuel be used during the warmer months of April to November. Exceptions are incorporated in the event that biodiesel fuel use may void a manufacturer’s warranty or the biodiesel fuel supply is interrupted. This legislation also requires that a pilot program be undertaken to determine the feasibility of using twenty percent biodiesel fuel during the winter months. At the conclusion of the pilot, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services will issue a report on its findings and recommendations for greater B20 use.

“In addition, this legislation requires that by 2017 any diesel-fuel powered motor vehicle that is used to perform a solid waste or recyclables contract, as well as any sight-seeing bus licensee, retrofit their vehicles to meet a level 4 emission controls strategy or meet the 2007 EPA engine standards for particulate matter. The City will also be required to ensure that at least 90 percent of its fleet meet these standards by 2017.

“Introductory Number 1062-A is sponsored by Council Members Gennaro, Levin, Fidler, Lander, Mendez, Palma, Richards, Gentile, Vallone, Brewer, and Eugene. Currently the Commissioner of Environmental Protection may issue a three year waiver for certain diesel-powered vehicles that are unable to adopt best available retrofit technology. In these circumstances, the vehicles must utilize the next best retrofit technology. Our Administration and the City Council have a shared concern that entities receiving waivers will continue to operate these aging vehicles without efforts being made to replace them with ones that have lower particulate matter emissions and are better for our environment. This legislation removes the ability for vehicles used to perform a solid waste or recyclable material contract, and licensed diesel fuel-powered sight-seeing busses from receiving a waiver after January 1st, 2014.

“Introductory Number 1074-A is sponsored by Council Members Richards, Levin, Chin, Comrie, James, Koppell, Lander, Palma, Vallone, Brewer, and Eugene. Our Administration has made significant investments in technology to review the fuel economy of the City fleet with the goal of increasing our fuel-efficiency performance. Introductory Number 1074-A requires that the use-based fuel economy of the City’s light-duty and medium-duty vehicles be reported beginning in 2016, and this information be included within the Mayor’s Management Report.

“The final bill before me is Introductory Number 1082-A, sponsored by Council Members Wills, Levin, Chin, Palma, Gentile, Vallone, Brewer and Eugene. Local Law 130 of 2005, which I signed into law, established minimum percentage increases in the average fuel economy of all light-duty vehicles purchase by the City up to Fiscal Year 2016. Since signing this into law, the City has met and exceeded these targets. The legislation before me today extends these requirements to Fiscal Year 2023, where the City will be required to reach at least a 40 percent increase in the average fuel economy of light-duty vehicles purchased.

“I would like to thank Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway, Fire Department Commissioner Sal Cassano, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Edna Wells Handy and Deputy Commissioner Keith Kerman, Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty, and their staff for their work on these bills, along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs. I would also like to thank Speaker Quinn and the City Council for working with us to craft legislation that will continue our commitment to ensuring New York City’s air is the cleanest of any large city in the country.”