Title
Authorizing the Committees on the Environment and Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold joint hearings regarding the reliability and servicing of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, In its 2021 Climate Action Playbook, the City of Philadelphia iterated its goal of reaching net zero carbon dioxide ("CO2") emissions by the year 2050, as part of a larger environmental quality initiative meant to mitigate the effects of climate change; and
WHEREAS, Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity contribute to the urban heat island effect and degrade the quality of the air we breathe. In addition, rising temperatures contribute to more severe storms, several of which have recently affected the Philadelphia area and led to near-record flooding of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and dozens of creeks and smaller tributaries; and
WHEREAS, While buildings and industry account for the highest share of Philadelphia's greenhouse gas emissions, cars, trucks and planes account for a quarter of CO2 emissions; therefore, we cannot achieve carbon neutrality without severely reducing emissions from these vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Electric vehicles ("EVs") and their hybrid companions, plug-in EVs (PEVs) are a key aspect of a cleaner future transportation sector, representing a growing share of public and private vehicles on Philadelphia streets; and
WHEREAS, With federal incentives supporting the Biden Administration's stated goal of 50% of nationwide auto sales being EVs by 2030, the adoption of clean vehicles only stands to accelerate; and
WHEREAS, Highlighting this trend, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has found that ownership of EVs in the City of Philadelphia increased by 63% from 2022 to 2023; and
WHEREAS, In anticipation of our future EV infrastructural needs, the City of Philadelphia, in partnership with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ("IBE...
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