A RESOLUTION ON ACCELERATING ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) ADOPTION
WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is committed to a clean environment and recognizes that climate change threatens the health and livelihoods of every American;
WHEREAS, the United States is the second highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world today and the top cumulative contributor since 1850, accounting for nearly 30%;
WHEREAS, the transportation sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for nearly 30% of total emissions;
WHEREAS, passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans account for over half of the transportation sector’s greenhouse emissions;
WHEREAS, reducing America’s dependence on oil and unstable markets by transitioning to electric vehicles is a matter of national and economic security;
WHEREAS, when we invest broadly in electric vehicles and their associated fueling infrastructure, public health outcomes will dramatically improve as air quality improves across America;
WHEREAS, transitioning vehicles on our roads away from fossil fuel technologies to zero emission alternatives will reduce oil consumption, provide cost savings to Americans, and increase domestic jobs;
WHEREAS, a robust national network of equitably distributed charging infrastructure and stations is needed to accelerate market transformation of electric vehicles;
WHEREAS, to improve public health, fight climate change, and create jobs, as legislators we urge the Administration and the United States Congress to maximize Federal direct funding to accelerate the transition of our transportation system from fossil fuel-powered technologies to vehicle electrification;
WHEREAS, as legislators, we support increasing the manufacturer cap to enhance the Federal EV tax credit, extending credits for charging infrastructure, and prioritizing funding for electric buses along with other vehicle classes, which together give vehicle manufacturers necessary market certainty to accelerate production capacity;
WHEREAS, as legislators, we want to lead by example, and are working to electrify public fleets; and
WHEREAS, legislators across America have shown support for the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative, an effort that leverages the buying power of cities to reduce the cost and complexity of vehicle procurement and accelerate the transition of municipal fleets to electric, including deploying charging infrastructure.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is committed to the transition of all vehicles on our roads to zero emission technologies, and the NBCSL urges the Administration and the United States Congress to extend and enhance the Federal EV tax credit, expand incentives to other vehicle classes, and invest in EV infrastructure and new battery technology to ensure the transition occurs on an accelerated time frame;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL asserts it belief and commitment to the following:
- A just and equitable 100% clean plan that leaves no workers of any communities behind;
- Direct large investments and job-training programs in renewables, including, where available, union sponsored job training programs already in existence; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the Unites States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate.
- SPONSOR: Representative Billy Mitchell (GA)
- Committee of Jurisdiction: Energy, Transportation, and Environment Policy Committee
- Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Senator Kevin Parker (NY) and Senator Sandra Williams (OH)
- Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 6, 2019
- Ratification is certified by: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), President
A RESOLUTION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PLATFORM
WHEREAS, all communities have a right to live free from exposure to dangerous toxic pollution in their soil as well as in the air they breathe, the food they eat, and the water they drink;
WHEREAS, persistent racial and economic inequalities—and the forces that cause them—embedded throughout our society have concentrated toxic polluters near and within communities of color, tribal communities, and low-income communities;
WHEREAS, these underlying social forces, including persistent and systematic racial discrimination and economic inequality, have created disproportionately high environmental and public health risks in these areas relative to other neighborhoods;
WHEREAS, the devastating and costly consequences of climate change threaten the health, safety, and livelihoods of people across the country, and generations of economic and social injustice have put communities on the frontlines of climate change effects;
WHEREAS, history shows that environmental regulation does not necessarily mean healthy environments for all communities, and many communities suffer from the cumulative effects of multiple pollution sources;
WHEREAS, climate policy language that addresses climate pollution must not abandon or diminish the important goal of reducing toxic pollution in all its forms;
WHEREAS, the shift to a sustainable, just, and equitable energy future requires innovative forms of investment and governance that distribute the benefits of this transition equitably and justly;
WHEREAS, this includes investing in the development of innovative decentralized models of energy provision; community governance and ownership; incorporation of social and health benefits into energy systems planning; incentivizing the inclusion of equity into future energy investment through public programs; and supporting public and private research and development to include equity considerations in new technology development;
WHEREAS, to ensure access to affordable energy for all, climate policy agendas must significantly reduce domestic energy vulnerability and poverty by addressing the problem of high energy cost burdens;
WHEREAS, to live and prosper in today’s society, access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is a basic need in daily life and fundamental to achieving rights related to health, environmental quality, education, and food and income security;
WHEREAS, to ensure a healthy transportation and goods movement, policies must address how we must build the next century’s transportation system to ensure healthy air quality for all communities, and this will require massive investment in affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable transportation;
WHEREAS, climate change events exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and creates new risks in our communities, and it is necessary to provide for safe, healthy communities and infrastructure;
WHEREAS, economic opportunities are lacking in many communities and as climate change deteriorates air quality, increases vector-borne disease and allergens, and contributes to a host of other public health threats, we must ensure full access to health care for all;
WHEREAS the continuing increase in wealth inequality plaques many communities across the US; and
WHEREAS, the right to return, relocation, anti-displacement and displacement are all fundamental challenges in many communities today, especially environmental justice communities.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) believes that no community is to be left behind, and that any climate policy language must address this environmental injustice head-on by prioritizing climate solutions and other policies that are aimed at reducing pollution in these legacy communities at the scale needed to significantly improve their public health and quality of life;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL believes that climate policy language must provide a healthy climate and air quality goal by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and locally harmful air pollution, and policies must prioritize reducing emissions in low-income areas and communities of color through a suite of policies, including climate mitigation policy;
BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED, that the NBCSL further believes that policy goals should be aimed at reducing carbon pollution, curb locally harmful pollution, and build resilience to improve the health, safety, and livability of all communities in a climate-changed world;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that climate solutions must be part of a comprehensive approach to reducing legacy environmental, health and economic impacts on communities and be designed intentionally to ensure that they do not impose further risks;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that a shift to an equitable energy future must be based on a inclusive, and just economy as well as create high-quality jobs with family- sustaining wages and safe and healthy working conditions, and it must make eliminating the barriers that produce unemployment and underemployment a priority;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that given the disparities in the housing stock and infrastructure across communities, it is imperative that future energy systems provide affordable energy access that ensures a healthy standard of living that provides for the basic needs of children and families;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that transportation planning must ensure affordable transportation that provides for mobility and access to daily activities and services, including jobs, education, health care, affordable housing, and social networks;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that climate solutions must provide opportunities for localized benefits that enhance the quality of life for all communities, including by improving local air quality, access to healthy food, local economic development, public health, and community vitality;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that we must prioritize investments in communities that are the most vulnerable to climate change, including in health monitoring and research to provide rigorous and reliable research on our progress;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that to address the increase in wealth and income inequality that plagues community economic diversification is critical, that economic development policies should support products and production processes that are low-emission and sustainable;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL further believes that relocation, displacement and right to recover must ensure that sustainable investments for both mitigation and adaptation do not overburdened and vulnerable communities, and it is imperative that new investments in resilient infrastructure in communities that have been historically disinvested be a priority;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; that the NBCSL further believes that it is important to ensure that everyone has access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water as well as maintaining and protecting water as a common resource regardless of the provider; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the Unites States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate.
- SPONSOR: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC)
- Committee of Jurisdiction: Energy, Transportation, and Environment Policy Committee
- Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Senator Kevin Parker (NY) and Senator Sandra Williams (OH)
- Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 6, 2019
- Ratification is certified by: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), President
A RESOLUTION ON CREATING SOLAR ENERGY JOBS FOR ALL AMERICANS
WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes the immense economic potential of the emerging solar power industry in the United States;
WHEREAS, the recent growth of the solar industry sector creates new opportunities to provide family supporting jobs for American workers;
WHEREAS, research has shown that the solar industry creates high paying jobs, drives technological innovation, strengthens energy security, lowers participating consumers’ electric bills and generates more jobs per megawatt-hour than any other source of energy;
WHEREAS, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the solar industry generated $17 billion dollars in investments in the U.S. economy in 2018;
WHEREAS, the solar industry is seeing significant growth, with 4 out of 10 electricity generation jobs being in the solar industry in 2017 – more new jobs than any other segment of the energy industry;
WHEREAS, there are now over 242,000 solar workers in the United States according to the Solar Foundation, and the solar workforce has more than doubled since 2012;
WHEREAS, the solar industry provides entry-level jobs at competitive wages, paying above the national median wage for all occupations; and
WHEREAS, the solar industry workforce is currently 74 percent male and 73 percent white, which while slightly more diverse than other energy, construction and manufacturing fields, presents a significant opportunity for diversification.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) urges state government to enact initiatives and policies that will create solar energy employment opportunities for all Americans, including women, underserved communities and communities of color, by funding or additional incentives for solar projects that involve workforce training and apprenticeship programs, specifically those that increase training and job opportunities for women and minorities in the solar industry;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges state government to enact initiatives and policies that will provide additional incentives for solar projects that employ women and minority employees or work with women or minority-owned solar businesses;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges state government to enact initiatives and policies that will prioritize solar projects that have a minority workforce, meet equitable subcontracting requirements, hire workforce training graduates, or create community benefits agreements;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges state government to enact initiatives and policies that will provide additional incentives for solar development in underserved or low-income areas, or benefiting communities transitioning away from fossil fuels;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges state government to enact initiatives and policies that will provide funding or educational programming for the solar industry based on best practices in recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting women and minorities;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges state government to enact initiatives and policies that will support policies that require solar companies to provide on-the-job training and/or hire from workforce training programs aimed at underserved communities, as a condition of receiving program incentives (such as rebates and RECs); and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the Unites States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate
- SPONSOR: Representative Canon Park (GA)
- Committee of Jurisdiction: Energy, Transportation, and Environment Policy Committee
- Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Senator Kevin Parker (NY) and Senator Sandra Williams (OH)
- Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 6, 2019
- Ratification is certified by: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), President