NYLCV Recognizes the Town of Bedford for its Commitment to Electric Vehicles

New York League of Conservation Voters
(212) 361-6350, Ext. 206

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2019
Contact: Shachar Sharon, ssharon@nylcv.org

NYLCV Recognizes the Town of Bedford for its Commitment to Electric Vehicles

Bedford, N.Y. – The New York League of Conservation Voters and Sustainable Westchester presented a Gold Certificate recognizing the Town of Bedford and Supervisor Chris Burdick for being a leader in greening its municipal fleet of vehicles pursuant to the groups’ Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Pledge.

In 2017, NYLCV and Sustainable Westchester developed the ZEV Pledge to engage local governments in Westchester on the environmental and cost benefits of electric vehicles, along with the opportunity to electrify their local fleets and set an example for other municipalities. The Town of Bedford committed to the ZEV Gold Pledge, the highest level, to electrify at least 10% of its light-duty local fleet by 2020, a commitment the town has already exceeded.

NYLCV President Julie Tighe said, “We are happy to recognize not only Bedford’s commitment to sustainability but its follow-through with that commitment. NYLCV congratulates Supervisor Burdick and the Town of Bedford for completing the ZEV Gold Pledge, the highest level of our ZEV Pledge program. We encourage other communities to follow their lead and look forward to continuing to work together to advance our shared priorities for the environment.”

Transportation is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State.  Westchester County has tremendous potential to be a model for other places in the state to reduce transportation emissions.  There are 650,000 registered vehicles in the county and enthusiastic local leaders like Supervisor Burdick are setting a positive example for residents and other municipalities to go electric.

For the past three years, NYLCV and Sustainable Westchester have been partnering to promote electric vehicles in Westchester. In addition to the ZEV Pledge, the groups held a public forum in White Plains last year to identify additional opportunities to green Westchester’s transportation sector. They continue to engage New Yorkers by encouraging residents to test-drive an EV and asking families with more than one vehicle to switch one to electric.

“We are very happy that Bedford is being recognized for this latest demonstration of its continued leadership role in the transition to a sustainable economy,” said Dan Welsh, Program Director of Sustainable Westchester’s Westchester Power Program.  “With installations of charging stations and early EV purchases, the Town is a model for both municipalities and its residents. Many thanks to the New York League of Conservation Voters for helping to energize Westchester communities by setting out targets in  the Zero Emissions Vehicle Pledge.”

Supervisor Burdick said, “We very much appreciates the recognition of the New York League of Conservation Voters for the Town meeting the Gold Pledge for electric vehicles, and we are optimistic that other Westchester municipalities also will pledge to purchase environmentally and cost-conscious electric vehicles.”

The New York League of Conservation Voters is the only non-partisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that takes a pragmatic approach to fighting for clean water, healthy air, renewable energy, and open space. For more information, visit www.nylcv.org.

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