New York City Votes To 'Green' Black Car Fleet

Subtitle:

Will cut greenhouse gas emissions in half

Contact:

Dan Hendrick, (212) 361-6350, ext. 206

Release Information:

April 17, 2008

Teaser:

Thanks to an innovative partnership between the Bloomberg administration, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, corporate fleets and their financing partners, the TLC has approved new fuel economy standards for New York City's black cars that will cut their greenhouse gas emissions in half.

Body:

NEW YORK -- The New York League of Conservation Voters, the nonpartisan voice for New York's environmental community, today applauded the New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission for approving a new regulation that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city's corporate black car fleet.

"We can all breathe a little easier, thanks to the exemplary partnership between Mayor Bloomberg, the Taxi and Limousine Commission and the corporate fleets," said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Black cars are important for New York City's economy but their pollution is a problem for our climate and our air quality. This new regulation will improve both."

Currently, black cars have an average fuel efficiency of 12-15 miles per gallon. Following today's vote, the TLC now requires fuel efficiency standards for new licensed black car vehicles of 25 mpg in 2009 and 30 mpg in 2010. Black cars contribute 272,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions equivalents annually, which make up 2 percent of the city's transportation-related emissions. Under the new standards, emissions from black cars will be cut in half.

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The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, policy-making and political action organization that works to make environmental protection a top priority with elected officials, decision makers, and voters by evaluating incumbent performance and endorsing and electing environmental leaders to office in New York State.