U.S. Postal Service is going electric

USPS announces a significant increase in electric vehicle purchases

Mick Haupt | Public Domain

Transportation is the No. 1 source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from cars, trucks and other vehicles cuts short an estimated 58,000 American lives each year. To protect public health and address climate change, we need to electrify every vehicle we can. And yet, the U.S. Postal Service operates hundreds of thousands of fossil fuel powered vehicles, bringing that pollution into our neighborhoods.

But not for long.

USPS announced a new commitment to electrify the nation’s mail delivery fleet. Thanks in part to a $3 billion investment in the Inflation Reduction Act, the agency announced that 75% of new vehicles purchased in 2023 will now be electric and beginning in 2026, all new vehicle purchases will be electric, and USPS will invest in charging infrastructure at hundreds of their facilities.

This announcement comes after a wave of opposition to the USPS’ initial plan, which only would have electrified 10% of new vehicles. PIRG joined tens of thousands of concerned citizens, President Biden, members of the U.S. House and Senate, and many states in calling on the USPS to do better.

In response to the new commitment, PIRG’s environment campaigns director, Matt Casale, said:

“We rely on the men and women of the USPS everyday – and no matter the conditions, they do their job. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night keeps mail carriers from our neighborhoods. When driving electric vehicles, they won’t be bringing with them the tailpipe pollution that puts the health of our communities at risk and drives climate change.

We are grateful for the Biden administration’s leadership and the USPS for going back to the table and getting a better result for the American people. This is a move closer to a world with cleaner air, healthier communities and a more stable climate. There remains a lot of work to do – including getting the USPS to 100% electric vehicles – but this is an important win for the climate and public health.”

 

Matt Casale

Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG

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