Press Contact: Sophie Cardona: (212) 361-2400, ext. 244 , or email cardona@informinc.org

NEW YORK TRANSPORTATION REVOLUTION HITS THE STREETS

Programs Pave the Way for Bipartisan Support

Washington, D.C. -- INFORM Founder Joanna Underwood today declared, "Clean fuels technology is not virtual reality. Just ask natural gas taxi drivers at Union Station or the New York City sanitation workers who no longer choke on the exhaust of their diesel fuel garbage trucks. In spite of all the detours and delay tactics by oil and auto interests, the transportation revolution has arrived - and you can see it on the streets of New York City and across the state."

Joined by Representatives Sherry Boehlert (R, NY), Jim Moran (D, VA), Mel Watt (D, NC), and environmental and health leaders for the release of Spotlight on New York: A Decade of Progress in Alternative Transportation Fuels, Underwood stated, "With the release of this report, we hope to see New York's transportation revolution enter the halls of Congress, the boardrooms of industry, the streets of our cities, and the town meetings of our communities."

"During this critical moment, as we debate the nation's transportation policies for the next century, we need the continued support and vision of leaders, such as my esteemed colleagues joining me today, who agree that New York's track record of change provides motivation for even more ambitious efforts across the country," said Underwood.

Spotlight on New York presents a comprehensive overview of the progress gained by state, federal, industry, and environmental leaders over a decade of research and program development in alternative fuels technologies and vehicles. Authored by internationally renowned energy expert James S. Cannon, the report identifies the critical elements, all present in New York, needed to successfully shift from oil-dependent transportation systems to cleaner alternatives such as natural gas, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel.

"New York's investment in alternative vehicles and fuels promises to pay back with significant dividends," said INFORM Senior Fellow Cannon. "Given the emerging international markets for clean energy sources, New York City, and the state now sit squarely at the forefront of a global movement to commercialize advanced fuels and technologies that are likely to dominate the transportation marketplace of the 21st century," added Cannon.

The "elements of success" that have contributed to New York's transportation revolution include:

• Multi-sector participation including state and local governments and private industry investments. To date, New York has invested over $70 million dollars, and funds from the nation's largest state-sponsored environmental bond act are scheduled for allocation this year.
  
• Implementation of fleet vehicle procurement projects and related infrastructure development. The commitment of municipalities to purchase alternative fuel fleets, including urban buses, municipal light-duty vehicles, taxis, school buses and sanitation trucks, and the stations to service and refuel them.
  
• Investments in research and development. New York's two-tiered program - technology development and vehicle demonstration - is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and is supported primarily through a utility surcharge.
  
• City and state policies that promote innovation. New York's programs range from mandates for use of cleaner-fueled vehicles to economic incentives for their use.
  
• Federal program support. Federal funds, such as the Department of Transportation's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and the Department of Energy's Clean Cities program, have been instrumental in providing technical assistance and financial support.

"New York's success with natural gas and alternative fuel vehicles demonstrates that we must continue to drive away from our traditional oil dependency and pave the way towards a national agenda for cleaner transportation," concluded Underwood.

INFORM is a national nonprofit organization that identifies practical ways of living and doing business that are environmentally sustainable. For more than a decade, INFORM's reports on alternative transportation fuels and advanced vehicle technologies have been respected resources worldwide.