Friday, August 16, 2024

City Joins 350 Mayors On Commitment to Electrify Fleets

Commitment to bring electric vehicles to Redmond will help reduce pollution, improve public health, and boost the clean energy economy for Redmond residents

REDMOND, WA - Today, Redmond Mayor Angela Birney joined nearly 350 U.S. mayors on a new collaborative commitment to electrify at least 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 and increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 500% by 2035, with at least 40% of charging investments to benefit disadvantaged communities. As a member of Climate Mayors – the bipartisan network of mayors from across the United States committed to climate action – Mayor Birney is helping to deliver cleaner air, lower tax bills, and a more sustainable future for all Redmond residents.

"Electrifying municipal fleets and building our charging infrastructure is key to building a green economy in Redmond,” said Mayor Birney. “By investing in sustainable transportation alongside fellow Climate Mayors, we not only reduce emissions, but also lay the foundation for new opportunities for innovation and sustainability in our community."

Today’s announcement builds on Mayor Birney’s ongoing efforts to bring the benefits of electric vehicles to Redmond. Redmond has been steadily adding electric vehicles, hybrids, and other cleaner alternate fuel vehicles for years. Upgrades currently underway to the City Hall parking garage and Maintenance Operations Center will add 22 charging spaces for new electric vehicles. Also, by the end of the year, Redmond will take delivery of the first electric fire engine in the state. Currently, Redmond’s fleet includes 10 fully electric vehicles, five fully electric small park maintenance vehicles, seven plug-in hybrid vehicles, and 38 other hybrid vehicles. For more information about Redmond’s green fleet, visit redmond.gov/1815

The Climate Mayors initiative is responding to the growing EV market in cities across the country, with nearly 17 million new fully electric and hybrid vehicles expected to be sold worldwide in 2024. The Climate Mayors network will provide resources to help member cities increase public access to EV charging through building an estimated 450,000 charging ports in cities across the network.

For more information about Redmond’s climate and energy sustainability efforts, visit redmond.gov/1493.

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