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.

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“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.

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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.

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“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."

CleanTechnica: Climate Mayors Urge Biden Administration to Finalize the Strongest Possible Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Reduce Pollution & Improve Air Quality for Cities

75 members of the Climate Mayors organization and Electrification Coalition urge President Biden to protect public health, address the climate crisis, and align with the heavy-duty vehicle industry’s commitment to transition to zero-emission vehicles

Smart Cities World: How local governments in the US are tackling climate change

Climate Mayors looks back at 2023’s notable local climate action wins in the US, considering energy, transportation, resilience, extreme weather and innovation.

Spectrum News: Climate coalition begins solar power campaign in NE Ohio

The campaign was announced by America Is All In, which describes itself as “the most expansive coalition of leaders ever assembled in support of climate action.” The release notes that they will be seeking to bring attention to the benefits solar power when it comes to cost, specifically citing the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

“We’re helping Ohio go all in on solar. The clean energy revolution is here,” said Gina McCarthy, managing co-chair of America Is All In, in the release. “Working with teams on the ground, we'll be talking directly to communities about how they can take advantage of the historic opportunities available through the Inflation Reduction Act to ditch fossil fuels once and for all and enjoy clean, affordable, and reliable solar power. Investing in solar means good-paying jobs right here in Ohio and cleaner air for generations to come.”
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“Cleveland is proud to be at the forefront of climate action. We were the first city in Ohio to commit to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050, a community-driven target, and this campaign by America Is All In will go a long way in helping us deliver on that target,” said Justin Bibb, Cleveland mayor and chair of Climate Mayors. “We are going to make sure that everyone in Cleveland, especially our historically disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods, are able to enjoy the benefits of solar energy, from lower energy bills to cleaner air.”

Ideastream: Cleveland Mayor Bibb elected as chair of bipartisan Climate Mayors collaborative

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb will be stepping into a new role as chair of Climate Mayors, a bipartisan organization that includes hundreds of mayors from across the country.

As chair, his priorities include centering racial equity and climate justice in this role, Bibb said, to ensure all residents are involved in and benefit from the decision-making process.

“It's so critical that we, as the mayors, talk about a work, wages and wealth agenda as it relates to the green economy so that we can ensure that every resident can be a part of this transition and that we leave no resident behind,” he said.

Cleveland Plain Dealer: EV charging stations, renewables, and more: Newly-named Climate Mayors Chair Justin Bibb lays out Cleveland’s 2024 climate goals

Mayor Justin Bibb has been chosen as chair of Climate Mayors, a national organization of mayors who are focused on tackling climate change at the local level.

In announcing his new role on Tuesday, Bibb laid out several climate priorities for Cleveland in 2024, including an expansion of the EV charging network, more renewable energy use at city buildings, and the creation of a long-term decarbonization plan.

“This is our moment as cities and mayors to really lead the way to advance economic and climate justice in our respective communities,” Bibb told fellow mayors and the press during a virtual Climate Mayors meeting on Tuesday.

“I’m seeing it firsthand now as mayor of Cleveland,” he said. “It’s going to take an all-of-government approach, working with the private sector and other key government organizations to truly implement the climate solutions our residents need and deserve.”

Philanthropy News Digest: Philanthropy is the key to ensuring cities’ climate benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act

While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provide unprecedented levels of funding for climate action, challenges remain for local governments. Of the $369 billion for climate and resilience funding in the IRA, only $37 billion, or 9 percent, will be split between states, counties, cities, and tribes, with the largest portion going to states. And nearly all of the funding for cities is through competitive grants and not the direct and more flexible formula funding that states receive.

These programs put the same demands on cities as they do on states, while providing far less money to already resource-constrained local governments. In addition, cost-share requirements exacerbate this issue for smaller cities and those with fewer resources. While local governments may receive only a small portion of IRA funds, $227 billion will be available as tax credits to businesses and $43 billion for individuals.

This is where the philanthropic community can and must step in. Philanthropy can play a pivotal role in ensuring that cities and the community-based organizations that local leaders work with have access to grantwriters, technical assistance, and pathways to collaborate with local, state, and tribal governments. With this support, Americans will be able to see the tangible benefits of lower energy bills, new job opportunities, and more resilient communities.

Washington Post: White House defines ‘zero-emission’ buildings, hoping more get built

The new national resilience strategy comes as the nation reels from a string of costly disasters, including devastating wildfires in Maui and Hurricane Idalia in Florida. Scientists say climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events, fueling a rise in calamities that cost the nation at least $1 billion each. Idalia became the 23rd “billion dollar” weather disaster to strike the United States this year, eclipsing the previous record of 22 set in 2020.

“2023 has set a new record for the most billion-dollar disasters in U.S. history, and that’s beginning to feel like the new normal,” said Satya Rhodes-Conway, the mayor of Madison, Wis., and chair of Climate Mayors, a bipartisan coalition of more than 750 mayors committed to climate action.

“When disaster strikes, it’s local government that has to pick up the pieces. We’re the ones on the front lines,” Rhodes-Conway said on a call with reporters Wednesday previewing the summit. “And the Biden administration gets that.”

The Hill: We need to build on the Inflation Reduction Act, not reverse it

For decades, local leaders have had a front-row seat to what the changing climate means for the future of our families and our economy. That’s why we’re focused on deploying people-first solutions and delivering results for the long-term. Today, that means breaking down political barriers to ensure our communities can benefit from the provisions in the IRA, now and for years to come.

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While the national discourse may be rife with polarization, on the local level we know the true impact of climate leadership: affordable clean energy, pollution-free air and meaningful climate justice. Because we are so close to the action, mayors know first-hand that locally deployed solutions like those above create lasting impacts on communities. By lowering energy costs, creating jobs and improving public health, local leaders are reshaping lives for the better.