Bloomberg: What Can US Cities and States Do for the Climate Under Trump? Plenty

The Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of roughly 350 mayors working to drive change locally but also the federal level. In the West, cities including Phoenix and Salt Lake City, which have been struggling with water shortages in the Colorado River basin, “are starting to get together to share best practices on what individual cities can do to better manage water,” said Mark Gold, the director of water scarcity solutions at the National Resources Defense Council. “This concept of trying to move towards self-sufficiency to build climate resilience is something that we’re talking about at length,” Gold said.

Fast Company: The Biden administration launched 66,000 infrastructure projects. Pete Buttigieg talks about what’s next

I think local government is hugely important, and state government will be very important as well. None of the projects we’re talking about, these 66,000 projects, none of them was conceived here at headquarters. And none of them is being delivered directly by the federal government. We provide the funds. It’s really the state, the city transit agencies, tribes, and others who are making it happen. So I do think that they will continue to lead the way. I remember a few years ago when a number of cities came together on the Climate Mayors—not just U.S. cities, but cities around the world that were tired of waiting for their respective national capitals to catch up on sustainability—and realize that between them they had most of the world’s GDP anyway. I do think you’ll maybe see a renewed season of leadership from the ground up to make sure that things keep happening even if it’s less steady here in Washington.

Context News: US cities seek to ‘Trump-proof’ inequality action ahead of vote

Still, U.S. cities gained significant experience in filling a perceived gap in federal policy during the first Trump administration, Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb said in an interview.

"We've been here before," said Bibb, who also chairs the national Climate Mayors group of more than 500 cities.

"America's mayors and Climate Mayors will work to continue to ensure that we take full advantage of the incentives, as we need to make sure we're addressing the climate crisis at the local level. We're already planning for either scenario," he said of the election outcome.

Wisconsin Examiner: How three big White House bills fixed streets and met climate priorities in one city

Climate change was a priority of Mason’s from when was first elected seven years ago. He committed the city to following the Paris Climate Accords.

Former President Donald Trump was in the White House at the time and withdrew from the accords in 2017. With federal policymakers uninterested in addressing climate change, Mason said, he looked elsewhere for support.

He joined the bipartisan Climate Mayors organization, municipal chief executives concerned about what many viewed as the central environmental concern of the time. He found the group invaluable for sharing ideas and learning what could work.

“You hear people, ‘Oh, you can’t do police cars that are electric,’” Mason said. “And then you go to a conference, and here’s 12 that are using electric vehicles as police cars.”

KIRO 7: First electric firetruck in the state coming to Redmond

The City of Redmond prepares to receive the state’s first electric fire truck as it looks to electrify its municipal fleets.

With the city’s goal of electrifying at least 50% of its fleet by 2035, the Redmond Fire Department will receive its first electric fire truck by the end of the year.

In August, the mayor of Redmond joined 350 U.S. mayors in a collaboration to increase the electrification of its government fleet.

“Electrifying municipal fleets and building our charging infrastructure is key to building a green economy in Redmond,” said Mayor Birney. “By investing in sustainable transportation alongside fellow Climate Mayors, we not only reduce emissions, but also lay the foundation for new opportunities for innovation and sustainability in our community.”

Governing: Hundreds of Mayors Agree to Set the Pace for Electric Vehicle Adoption

A bipartisan group of 350 mayors hopes to lead by example, committing to collectively electrify at least half of their fleets by 2030 and increase EV chargers by at least 500 percent by 2035.

They are members of Climate Mayors, a peer-to-peer network of city leaders in 48 states working together to address climate challenges. The majority are Democrats, but the group also includes Republicans. The announcement is meant to be a market signal to American makers of cars and light-duty trucks.

425 Magazine: City of Redmond Joins Initiative to Electrify Municipal Fleets

Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of mayors from across the United States committed to climate action. The goal is to electrify at least 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 and increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 500% by 2035, with at least 40% of charging investments to benefit disadvantaged communities, a release said. 

"Electrifying municipal fleets and building our charging infrastructure is key to building a green economy in Redmond,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney in a press statement. “By investing in sustainable transportation alongside fellow Climate Mayors, we not only reduce emissions, but also lay the foundation for new opportunities for innovation and sustainability in our community.” 

Axios: Justin Bibb and Climate Mayors embrace EVs

Why it matters: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb chairs Climate Mayors, which was established in 2014.

The group believes that wider EV adoption delivers vast benefits, including cost savings, cleaner air, and good-paying jobs in a burgeoning industry.

Driving the news: The nearly 350 mayors also committed to dramatically increasing electric vehicle (EV) chargers in their communities.

Part of the group's pledge is ensuring that 40% of the new charging infrastructure benefits disadvantaged communities.

Between the lines: The pledge is a response to the Biden administration's goal to make 50% of all new vehicle sales electric by 2030.

What they're saying: "I'm excited by our collective commitment," Bibb said in a statement. "Transportation accounts for tons of toxic emissions, and it's up to us to lead by example by prioritizing clean technologies."

Reality check: As of last year, Cleveland's EV registration rate was among the lowest in big cities nationwide.

EVs accounted for only 2.2% of new vehicle registrations in the metro area, up marginally from 1.9% in January the previous year.

The big picture: Ohio plans to spend $169 million in federal dollars to install EV charging stations across the state over the next five years.

EV Info: Mayors Pledge to Electrify 50% of City Fleets by 2030, Increase Charging 500% by 2035

The commitment from nearly 350 US Mayors, as part of the Climate Mayors program, to electrify at least 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 and boost EV chargers by 500% by 2035 is a significant step forward in advancing the adoption of electric vehicles and addressing climate change.

Climate Mayors made the bold announcement for #Electrify50, on August 13, 2024, the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA was a part of the the Biden-Harris Administration’s great success in fighting climate change, with the largest and boldest action for climate in US history, including comprehensive support of the fast-moving and exciting EV revolution in America.

It’s impressive how Climate Mayors has evolved over a decade from its inception in 2014. Their new commitment to electrify municipal fleets and expand EV charging infrastructure reflects a strong and sustained effort to address climate change at the local level. By focusing on cleaner air, green jobs, and equitable access to charging, they are setting a powerful example for other cities and communities to follow. This initiative could serve as a model for achieving broader EV adoption and advancing climate goals nationwide.

Semafor: To tear down Biden’s climate legacy, Vance needs to go through Ohio’s mayors

“In my private conversations with Senator Vance, he’s been very supportive of what we’re trying to do,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who this week joined a group of 350 other US mayors in committing to electrify half their cities’ vehicle fleet by 2030. “But I’m certainly concerned about the election and the impact it could have. If [Vance] is elected we really hope to talk to him about how to support this.”

Bibb is a Democrat, but Ohio’s mayors have become a bipartisan bulwark in support of the IRA in a state where climate policy is usually much more divisive, said Joe Flarida, executive director of Power a Clean Future Ohio, an advocacy group that guides city governments on how to take advantage of IRA tax credits.

Electrive: 350 US mayors pledge to electrify 50 per cent of their fleets

The Climate Mayors initiative was founded ten years ago by US mayors who see climate change as a serious problem. Now, around 350 mayors from the initiative have formulated the joint goal of electrifying half of municipal vehicle fleets by 2030.

Politico Pro: Can Musk trump EV politics?

Climate Mayors, a bipartisan group of nearly 350 climate-minded city leaders launched in 2014, is behind the commitment. The organization estimated it will put between 80,000 and 100,000 new light- and medium-duty EVs on the road by the end of the decade, as well as deploying 450,000 new chargers.

“Every mayor will tell you that there are three political parties in America: Democrats, Republicans and mayors,” Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, a Democrat who chairs Climate Mayors, told your ME host.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed the Biden administration’s support for the effort in a statement provided by Climate Mayors.

Politico Pro: US mayors pledge to electrify city fleets

The commitment by the members of Climate Mayors, a bipartisan group of climate-minded city leaders launched in 2014, will put between 80,000 and 100,000 new light- and medium-duty electric vehicles on the road by the end of the decade, the organization estimated.

As part of the agreement, which is first being reported by POLITICO, the mayors also committed to increasing charging infrastructure in their cities by 500 percent by 2035, with at least 40 percent of the benefits going to disadvantaged communities. That could translate to 450,000 new chargers on the streets, according to Kate Wright, executive director of Climate Mayors.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, a Democrat who chairs Climate Mayors, said the commitment is an indication of the bipartisan support for electric vehicles at the local level, even as they become increasingly polarized nationally.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed the Biden administration’s support for the effort in a statement provided by Climate Mayors.

City of Redmond: City of Redmond Joins Nearly 350 U.S. Mayors on New Commitment to Electrify Municipal Fleets

As a member of Climate Mayors – the bipartisan network of mayors from across the United States committed to climate action – Mayor Birney is helping to deliver cleaner air, lower tax bills, and a more sustainable future for all Redmond residents.

"Electrifying municipal fleets and building our charging infrastructure is key to building a green economy in Redmond,” said Mayor Birney. “By investing in sustainable transportation alongside fellow Climate Mayors, we not only reduce emissions, but also lay the foundation for new opportunities for innovation and sustainability in our community." 

The Climate Mayors initiative is responding to the growing EV market in cities across the country, with nearly 17 million new fully electric and hybrid vehicles expected to be sold worldwide in 2024. The Climate Mayors network will provide resources to help member cities increase public access to EV charging through building an estimated 450,000 charging ports in cities across the network. 

Clean Technica: Major New Commitment from Nearly 350 Mayors to Accelerate US Electric Vehicle Transition

Today, as a part of the 2nd anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, nearly 350 Climate Mayors announced a commitment to electrify at least 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 while increasing electric vehicle (EV) chargers by at least 500%, with at least 40% of the charging infrastructure benefitting disadvantaged communities.

Sending a major market signal to auto and light duty truck manufacturers, the commitment comes on the 10-year anniversary of Climate Mayors, which was first launched in 2014 by three U.S. mayors coming together to galvanize local leaders to act together on climate change. With today’s commitment, the mayors pledged to bring cleaner air and green jobs to their cities by supporting the growth of EVs, investing in infrastructure, increasing public charging stations, and accelerating fleet electrification.

E&E News: Cities are buying EVs in bulk for government fleets

“Most cities have taken the approach of ‘Let’s be as ambitious as possible and start to socialize and change the norms around light-duty and medium-duty vehicles,'” said Kate Wright, executive director of the nonprofit group Climate Mayors.

Climate Mayors has worked with the Electrification Coalition, another nonprofit, to set up a purchasing cooperative for cities that are looking for electric models. That’s important for smaller municipalities that may not have the staff or the time to search for EVs.

Smart Cities World: The EV boom is here, and mayors are taking the wheel

Mayor of Madison and and Chair Emerita of Climate Mayors, Satya Rhodes-Conway, says the time is now to leverage unprecedented federal funding to ensure a clean transportation future.

Work on Progress: Prioritizing resilience to extreme weather and climate change is creating new clean energy jobs

In this episode of Work in Progress, Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland talks about how a coalition of American mayors are attacking the impact of extreme weather and environmental challenges in their communities and are bolstering their local economies by creating clean energy jobs.

U.S. Green Building Council Q&A: Kate Wright, executive director of Climate Mayors

Listen to a conversation with Kate Wright on how Climate Mayors supports cities and communities.

With nearly $700 billion in funds from the Infrastructure and Investment Act and Inflation Reduction Act now moving through a political pipeline that stretches from Washington, D.C., to all 50 states and the nation’s more than 19,000 municipalities, the U.S. is accelerating its strategies to fight climate change. Climate Mayors, a bipartisan organization whose members are dedicated to demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities, is playing a vital, front-line role in this effort.

Providing leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s activities is its executive director, Kate Wright. USGBC recently spoke with her about the organization and the work that lies ahead.

Wright provided insight on several topics, including

• The opportunities in 2024. “We see this year as a pivot point, where we’ve demonstrated leadership for a decade, we have ambitious climate action plans, and now we have deep support from the federal government to move at a scale and a pace that we haven’t been able to.”

• Building up the resilient communities we need. “We have a number of tools and science that backs up the climate impacts that we can expect. We have the information, and so now it’s really about making sure that our social structure and our infrastructure is resilient enough to keep up with those impacts.”

• How Climate Mayors supports members. “We are getting the word out about grant programs. We’re helping our cities navigate that. We’re providing technical assistance. We’re providing peer learning opportunities and best practices and working to ensure that those benefits are being seen in the communities that our mayors serve.”

WLOS: Asheville mayor joins push to finalize strong emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles

Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer joined 75 mayors across America who signed a letter to the Biden administration to finalize strong emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.

The rule would make the transition to electric heavy-duty vehicles like, trucks or buses, quicker across the country.

"As Mayor of Asheville, I signed on to the mayors’ climate letter," Manheimer said in a written statement. "The City of Asheville has a 100% renewable energy goal for municipal operations by 2030 and to support Buncombe County’s communitywide goal by 2042. The City of Asheville and Buncombe County are just two of the many local governments in North Carolina that have adopted climate goals. These ambitious goals are vital to addressing the climate emergency."