Western Pa. officials push for transition to electric vehicles, clean energy

Several Western Pennsylvania officials called Monday for a quick transition to electric vehicles and clean-energy generation.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, State Sen. Lindsey Williams and other advocates held a news conference to express support for proposed federal vehicle standards that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said would aim to “accelerate the ongoing transition to a clean-vehicles future and tackle the climate crisis.”

The officials also touted local efforts to begin moving to electric vehicle technology.

Gainey touted Pittsburgh’s efforts to transition its vehicle fleet to electric, and highlighted the city’s recent purchase of four fully electric trucks. The trucks, he said, can travel up to 320 miles on one $5 charge, which is environmentally friendly and cheaper than the city’s other trucks, which cost about $50 per fill-up at the pump.

“Having modern reliable vehicles is critical to provide the best quality of service to all of Pittsburgh,” the mayor said, adding that the new electric vehicles demonstrate “an investment in a clean and green future.”

Williams, who sits on the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee, said officials need to ensure electric vehicles are accessible and incentivized to everyone.

She voted against a proposal that the committee approved last week, which would charge owners of non-commercial passenger electric vehicles a $290 annual fee.

Williams said the charge, which would be one of the highest in the country, would make electric vehicles “out of reach for working families.” She said she felt electric vehicle drivers should “pay their fair share,” but said lawmakers should ensure they’re not steering people away from cleaner vehicle options.

Monday’s news conference was part of a larger effort to generate support for electric vehicle technology in hopes that it will urge federal government officials to help “spur our transition from gas to hybrid and electric vehicles,” said Patrick Campbell, executive director of Group Against Smog Pollution.

He pointed to efforts already underway locally, including Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s commitment to transition its bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2045 and a Pennsylvania grant program that will infuse $12.7 million into businesses across the state to help them replace diesel trucks with electric alternatives.

On the federal level, Campbell lauded the tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that aim to encourage people to opt for more environmentally friendly cars.

“By investing in cleaner cars, we can reduce air pollution and help protect our most vulnerable neighbors,” he said.

Dr. Stephanie Maximous, a pulmonary and critical care physician at UPMC, said she often sees patients who are suffering from the ill effects of unhealthy air, many of whom could see their conditions mitigated in environments with cleaner air quality.