The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, in partnership with the New York State Department of Public Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, awarded $82 million to 10 grand prize-winning projects as part of the New York Clean Transportation Prizes program.
The program supports projects with funds that enhance clean transportation, improve mobility options and reduce emissions. The first phase of the program saw $3 million in total funding awarded to 17 finalists. The program supports New York state’s goal of an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments being directed at disadvantaged communities.
The grand prize winners fell into three challenge categories: Clean neighborhoods, electric mobility and electric truck and bus. The 17 finalists updated their proposals as part of the second phase of the program and the 10 grand prize projects were selected.
"Improving access to clean mobility options, electrifying trucks and buses, and supporting projects that reduce air pollution modernizes the way residents and visitors access community services, recreation and work opportunities while creating jobs, improving health, and reducing the impacts of climate change,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado added, “Through the Clean Transportation Prizes program, grand prize awardees created forward-thinking projects that reflect critical community input to address transportation gaps, help foster local clean energy jobs and reduce pollution in the areas that need it most."
Clean Neighborhoods Challenge
According to the challenge partners, the Clean Neighborhoods Challenge will fund scalable, community-aligned clean transportation solutions that reduce local air pollution, help to overcome persistent transportation challenges, improve quality of life and remove barriers to widespread electric and active transportation use in New York State’s disadvantaged communities.
Three grand prizes of $10 million each were awarded to projects that address air pollution reduction at scale in underserved communities and include:
• Clean Transit Access Program in New York City - Electrifying NYC Dollar Vans led by Dollaride
• The Bronx is Breathing: Reimagining a Cleaner Hunts Point led by Volvo Technology of America, a subsidiary of Volvo Group North America in New York City
• Centering People, Place and Policy for Buffalo's Clean Mobility Future led by Local Initiatives Support Corporation Western New York Office
Dollaride leverages external private capital to serve New Yorkers who live in transit deserts. The project will electrify a fleet of 30 non electric commuter vans, convert up to 20 internal combustion engine commuter vans into EVs and provide charging stations for the fleet. The program will expand from a small area within Jamaica, Queens to multiple neighborhoods throughout Queens and Brooklyn with a potential scope of 600,000 total riders.
Centering People, Place and Policy for Buffalo's Clean Mobility Future will deploy e-bikes, electric carshare and mobility as a service, invest in a just transition and job training; build wealth in existing communities and reduce access barriers for participation in the new mobility future.
Electric Mobility Challenge
The Electric Mobility Challenge saw four grand prizes of $7 million each awarded to projects that demonstrate electric mobility options that solve underserved community needs, including:
• Promoting Sustainable Transportation: Electric Micro-Shuttle Services in Long Island led by Circuit Transit Inc. (through TFR Holdings Corp.)
• Project MOVER: Moving onto Vast E-Micro-mobility Replication led by EIT InnoEnergy USA
• Red Hook Recharge Zone led by Revel Transit
• Tompkins County Transportation Equity & Access Project led by Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit
Circuit’s project in Long Island will operate a turnkey micro-shuttle service using battery electric vehicles.
“This grant will allow us to bring over two years of service to the Rockaways and Brentwood, create jobs, reduce emissions and hopefully build a case study for long-term funding support," said Circuit CEO Alex Esposito.
Electric Truck & Bus Challenge
The Electric Truck & Bus Challenge say three grand prizes of $8 million each awarded to projects that demonstrate electrified solutions or replacement of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles.
The winning projects include:
• Freight Electrification-as-a-Service for Transformation led by CALSTART
• Accelerating New York Fuel Cell Bus & Hydrogen Infrastructure Deployments led by Krueger Transport
• Electrifying School Buses in the Bronx led by New York City School Bus Umbrella Services
The fuel cell project will see the deployment of two 40-foot fuel cell electric buses from New Flyer of America on Metropolitan Transportation Authority routes. The vehicles will have a range of more than 300 miles and will serve out of the Gun Hill Depot in the Bronx to demonstrate hydrogen as a feasible and cost-effective solution to zero-emission vehicle adoption.
“Today’s award is a historic moment for New York City Transit, as we prepare to deploy the first-ever hydrogen fuel cell buses at the MTA and in all of New York State,” said NYCT President Richard Davey. “As the MTA boldly moves towards a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, demonstrating that hydrogen is a feasible and effective complement to our existing and future battery-electric fleet is a crucial next step. This grant will help us successfully showcase the role hydrogen fuel-cell buses have in the MTA’s zero-emission future.”
