Call on the Port Authority of Allegheny County to go fossil fuel-free by 2040

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is finalizing its plan for the next 25 years of public transportation in the region. Excitingly, the plan sets an ambitious goal to move the Port Authority’s entire bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles. However, the plan also allows for gas-powered buses -- and says nothing about where the power to run these electric buses should come from, which runs counter to the zero-emissions goal.

The Port Authority is currently holding a public comment period to get input on their proposed plan. Send them an email asking them to remove gas buses from their plan to ensure that they can achieve a fossil fuel-free bus fleet by 2040.

Subject: Comment on Port Authority's draft 25-year plan

Your Letter:

I am writing to submit comments regarding the Port Authority's recently released draft NEXTransit 25-year plan.

Thank you for setting the much-needed and ambitious goal of a zero-emission bus fleet for the Port Authority by 2045 and acknowledging that the agency “should reduce its carbon footprint as much as possible.” The transportation sector is the largest source of climate-warming pollution in the U.S., so steps like these are crucial for tackling the climate crisis.

But the Port Authority cannot hit its goal of a zero emission fleet with gas-powered buses, and it cannot achieve meaningful carbon reductions without a renewable energy goal. For this reason, I ask you to revise the plan to commit to an all-electric fleet by 2040 and commit to 100% renewable energy to fuel the fleet and the Port Authority’s buildings and other energy uses by 2050 at the latest. Additionally, I ask that you set interim goals to ensure the Port Authority is on track to achieve these goals.

Aiming for a zero-emission fleet and a smaller carbon footprint is laudable. Please set ambitious timelines and plans to ensure that the Port Authority can achieve it.

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