A new bill introduced in Congress may give New York City the right to set taxi emission standards, helping to clear the air and fight global climate change.
The Green Taxis Act of 2009, which will be included in a larger, comprehensive climate change bill, will allow local governments to set fuel economy standards for their taxi fleets. If passed, the city can require higher emissions standards, a measure that is prevented by current federal law.
The Green Taxis Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and in the House of Representatives by Congressmember Jerrold Nadler on Thursday, October 1.
“As federal law is current written, it prevents local governments from making taxis environmentally friendly,” Nadler said. “This legislation will finally empower New York City and other cities to make their taxi fleets greener and more sustainable.”
A federal court struck down the city’s mandated fuel emissions standards last year, when a judge ruled that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) prevents the city from requiring new cabs to achieve a minimum fuel economy rating.
The city then created a program to incentivize hybrid and fuel-efficient cabs, but the program is currently under appeal and the case is not expected to be argued until the spring, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office.
The Green Taxis Act amends existing legislation, including the EPCA, to allow cities and localities to enforce their own regulations on taxi emissions, according to Nadler.
Proponents of the current legislation see the bill as a way to clean up the local air.
“Federal law should not preempt cities from requiring higher fuel efficiency standards,” mayoral spokesperson Marc LaVorgna said. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t step into the 21st century and clean our air.”
Greening the city’s taxi fleet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 300,000 tons, the equivalent of taking 35,000 cars off the road. Switching to more fuel-efficient cabs would also save drivers an average of $4,500 a year in gas costs, according to Gillibrand.
LaVorgna said that these greenhouse gas reductions would have health benefits too, cutting the city’s asthma and preventing damage to lung tissue.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg threw his support behind the Green Taxis Act.
“It is encouraging to see the federal government working to remove barriers to fuel efficient taxis instead of creating them,” Bloomberg said. “Climate change is a difficult and growing problem that we can’t afford to ignore.”
