CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: January 19, 2021 Action Required: Resolution Adoption Staff Contacts: John C. Blair, Acting City Manager Presenters: Sena Magill, Vice-Mayor Title: Resolution Endorsing Letter for No/Low Emission Vehicles Background: Virginia Delegate Lamont Bagby has introduced HB1965 in order to have the State Air Control Board to implement a low/no emissions vehicle program for motor vehicles with a model year of 2025 or later. Discussion: The local Community Climate Collaborative is asking the City Council to list Charlottesville as a signatory to the attached letter. The letter urges the General Assembly to enact Delegate Bagby’s legislation. Attachments: Resolution Letter RESOLUTION ENDORSING CORRESPONDENCE SUPPORTING HB1965 WHEREAS, Delegate Lamont Bagby has introduced HB 1965 in the Virginia House of Delegates to increase the availability of low and zero emissions vehicles; and WHEREAS, a group of localities is endorsing a letter urging the Virginia General Assembly to enact legislation similar to HB 1965. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia hereby agrees to add its endorsement of the letter attached to this Resolution. January 4, 2021 RE: Supporting policy which expands access to low and zero emissions vehicles Dear Members of the Virginia General Assembly, As a community of Virginia municipalities, we urge lawmakers to empower our localities and businesses to usher in a clean economy, reduce air pollution, and improve public health by supporting policy which expands access to low and zero emissions vehicles. Fossil fuel based transportation threatens our air quality and significantly increases community healthcare costs. A recent study from Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action (VCCA) found that the health impacts attributable to Virginia-specific transportation emissions are valued at $750 million annually. 1 Moreover, air pollution and the associated costs disproportionately impact low-income and minority communities, where respiratory illness is correlated with higher exposure to emissions from fossil fuel vehicles. The VCCA study found that Virginia could significantly reduce healthcare costs by implementing low and zero emissions vehicle standards. Climate change also poses a significant risk to the health, livelihood, and economic stability of our communities. Recognizing these risks, our communities are making ambitious commitments and taking action to improve energy efficiency, adopt clean energy, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Transportation is responsible for 48% of climate emissions statewide 2 and is a significant contributor to each of our community-wide emissions as well. Vehicle electrification is essential to our ability to reduce emissions at the community level. Despite the significant health and climate benefits of vehicle electrification, unfortunately, auto manufacturers do not provide Virginia automotive dealers with many low and zero emission vehicles, leaving our citizens with little from which to choose. Sixteen states have already passed standards requiring manufacturers to increase the availability of low-emission and zero- emission vehicles. Combining these standards with tax incentives for purchase of these vehicles will accelerate transportation electrification, improve public health, and support Virginia’s continued leadership on climate change. We ask the General Assembly to pass legislation which increases the availability of low and zero emissions vehicles in Virginia and provides consumers financial incentives to choose them. Our localities want to ensure that all Virginians can enjoy a thriving economy, a clean environment, and healthy communities for the many generations to come. We hope that the General Assembly will partner with us to turn this vision into reality. Sincerely, 1 https://www.virginiaclinicians.org/transportation 2 U.S. Energy Information Administration [Names of Local Governments]