NRDC applauds Pennsylvania Senate committee advancement of clean transportation legislation

The Pennsylvania Senate’s Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee voted Wednesday to advance the Pennsylvania Clean Transportation Act (Senate Bill 596), a move praised by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The bipartisan bill, introduced by state Sen. Bob Mensch (R), seeks to spur the development of electric, natural gas, and hydrogen vehicles by creating the transportation infrastructure to support them. The NRDC is specifically pleased with the efforts the legislation will support to significantly advance the number of electric vehicles and charging stations across the state.

In March, the NRDC also published a fact sheet about the bill promoting the need for collaboration between state agencies, utilities, and industry participants to successfully make electric vehicles an option for all Pennsylvania residents.

“Everyone stands to benefit when we increase the number of electric vehicles – from cars to trucks to buses – on Pennsylvania roads,” Kathy Harris, NRDC’s clean vehicles and fuels advocate, said. “This bipartisan effort will help Pennsylvania jumpstart its clean transportation network while curbing harmful climate pollution. At the same time, it will help spur investment in the state – boosting the economy and creating local clean energy jobs. This is a major leap forward that will help the state catch up to its neighbors across the Northeast region.”

Senate Bill 596 aims to tackle transportation pollution, which is one of the biggest sources of climate pollution in the region. It also aims to promote economic growth and job creation by encouraging private investment in cars, buses, equipment that Pennsylvania business are helping to develop.

“As increasing numbers of Pennsylvania consumers and businesses consider choosing alternative energy vehicles, and our businesses look for opportunities to invest in cleaner, more efficient equipment, we must ensure that well-planned charging and refueling infrastructures are deployed in the state,” Mensch said in a memo prior to introducing the bill last year. “The Pennsylvania Clean Transportation Infrastructure Act will create a framework for building this infrastructure by combining the expertise of our transportation and public utility sectors.”