NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio announced several green initiatives, as well as a lawsuit against oil companies, to mark Earth Day on Thursday.
Among the initiatives was a 100% electric school bus fleet for the city by 2035 and a requirement that new parking lots and garages have charging stations for electric vehicles.
De Blasio also announced that the city was suing Exxon, Shell, BP, and the American Petroleum Institute "for violating New York City's Consumer Protection Law through false advertising and deceptive trade practices."
"Our children deserve to live in a world free from climate change, and we must do everything in our power to give them hope and stop climate change in its tracks," de Blasio said in a statement. "That means taking on some of the biggest polluting corporations for false advertising and greenwashing, in direct violation of our Consumer Protection Laws. My Earth Day message to Big Oil: See you in court."
In a statement provided to 1010 WINS, American Petroleum Institute President and Chief Legal Officer Paul G. Afonso said: "In response to a significant loss in the 2nd Circuit, New York City is now attempting to litigate other meritless issues with this lawsuit. The record of the past two decades demonstrates that the industry has achieved its goal of providing affordable, reliable American energy to U.S. consumers while substantially reducing emissions and our environmental footprint. Any suggestion to the contrary is false."
De Blasio said the aim to have a 100% electric school bus fleet by 2035 builds on the city's goal for a 100% electric city fleet by 2040.
He said the city will start immediately phasing in 75 electric buses over the next two years.
"We are doubling down in every way on reducing emissions and reducing pollution from the city fleet," de Blasio said. "Last year, I signed an executive order that we would have an all-electric city fleet by 2040. We want to keep pushing the spectrum on that, moving faster and faster, and the school buses are going to be crucial."
NYC Mayor
De Blasio also announced that City Hall is working with the City Council to expand existing law to require that all new parking lots and garages have electric vehicle charging.
"New spots have to come with electric chargers, many of them at least have to have electric chargers installed from the very beginning," de Blasio said.
Additionally, the mayor said the city was resuming its curbside composting program that was put on hold during the pandemic.
"Thankfully, we have the resources to bring curbside composting back," de Blasio said.
Enrollment in curbside composting will begin in August in the communities that previously had it, while collection services will begin in October, de Blasio said.
