Why Clean Transportation Prizes?

Why Clean Transportation?

The transportation sector is one of New York’s largest sources of pollution. In fact, it accounts for 36% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.  That doesn’t only warm the planet. Fossil fuel transportation emissions make millions of Americans sick every year and cost billions in avoidable healthcare costs.  And transportation is expensive for New Yorkers—the second-largest cost for families outside of housing costs.  

Clean transportation options flip those problems on their head, saving New York residents money and improving their health. Sustainable energy solutions must start with black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) and other traditionally underserved communities, which are put at the greatest risk due to factors such as poor air quality, proximity to industrial pollution, and extreme weather. This is exactly what New York’s nation-leading plan to reduce carbon emissions 85% by 2050—and the Clean Transportation Prizes—aims to do.

Why Prizes?

Climate solutions must start from the ground up. New York’s Clean Transportation Prizes are a commitment to making a difference in the State’s underserved communities. To achieve its ambitious clean energy goals, New York needs leadership at a community level. 

That’s exactly who stepped up when we offered $85 million in Make Ready Funding through the Clean Transportation Prizes. The prizes were designed to listen to communities in action, then provide ambitious clean transportation solutions with the funding they needed for a greener reality. The ten winning initiatives were created by real-life innovators in New York communities. And we couldn’t be prouder to have provided them the chance to help improve New York’s transportation in the present and future.