New York City is First Large-Scale Implementer of Renewable Diesel on East Coast
Transition Will Prevent 162 Million Pounds of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Every Year
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina today announced 100 percent of the city’s 12,500 heavy-duty and off-road vehicles have completed the transition to renewable diesel, making New York City the first major East Coast city to implement this green technology at such a large scale. The transition will prevent 162 million pounds of global carbon dioxide emissions from entering the air every year, and it will serve as an important bridge fuel as viable electric versions of these vehicles are developed and placed into the market.
“Building a safer city also means protecting New Yorkers from the dangers posed by carbon emissions and climate change,” said Mayor Adams. “Transitioning our entire heavy-duty fleet to renewable diesel is an important step on our path to carbon neutrality and a clear indication of our commitment to a cleaner, greener New York City.”
“This achievement reflects the Adams administration’s unwavering focus on tackling climate change and advancing innovative solutions. By transitioning our fleet to renewable diesel, we are reducing emissions, improving air quality, and solidifying New York City as a national leader in sustainable practices,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I am proud of our administration for successfully implementing ambitious policy changes and building a healthier, more resilient city for all New Yorkers.”
“In our quest to make New York the greenest big city in the country, we have to be the change we wish to see,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Completing the transition to renewable diesel puts our fleet ahead of the pack, as we work towards electrification of our school buses and taxis. The message is clear: In the war against climate change, there are no deferments. We will all need to do our part.”
“Today marks a significant milestone in New York City's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, and I could not be more proud of the team for getting this done for our city,” said DCAS Commissioner Molina. “The transition of our fleet to renewable diesel epitomizes our dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and setting a new national standard for fleet greening initiatives. By replacing conventional diesel, and through our continuous work to transition from gas to electric cars, we are eliminating harmful emissions from our air and paving the way for a cleaner, healthier New York City for all who call it home.”
“The men and women of the NYPD are proud to help advance the city’s goal of minimizing our collective carbon footprint through the implementation of smart and energy-efficient solutions,” said Interim New York City Police Department Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon. “Reducing life cycle greenhouse gas emissions is truly one of the best ways we can serve New Yorkers.”
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is the FDNY’s top priority,” said Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Robert Tucker. “Now, thanks to renewable diesel, we’re able to do that more efficiently and with less impact on the environment, without any impact on fire and medical operations. The FDNY is proud to be fully compliant, with renewable diesel in all of our firetrucks and ambulances. That’s a win for the city, and a win for the environment.”
“DSNY is the largest user of renewable diesel among city agencies,” said New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “By powering our collection trucks and snow equipment with renewable diesel, New York’s Strongest are playing a critical role in keeping our city clean, both in the streets and in the air.”
“The transportation sector is responsible for nearly 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in our city, but that means it can also be a key part of the solution. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels offers a key step towards a greener and healthier New York City,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Transitioning the city’s heavy-duty vehicle fleet to renewable diesel shows that the city is leading by example and is finding new ways to reduce its carbon footprint.”
“New York City is committed to fully electrifying our transportation, our infrastructure, and our buildings — both in the private sector and when it comes to city government operations,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “This is a truly ambitious commitment, and we need to take the challenge on from all sides. That means using viable technology to electrify what we can in the short term when it comes to passenger cars and fossil fuel-fired heating systems in our buildings, while using bridge technologies like renewable fuels when electric options aren’t available. That includes some infrastructure, portfolios of buildings that require significant capital planning to electrify, and heavy-duty vehicles like snowplows and ambulances that serve New Yorkers.”
“In September 2023, the City of New York became the first city to transition to renewable diesel on the East Coast of the United States,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and New York City Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “Mayor Adams set a goal for all agencies to switch out their dirty fossil diesel at in-house fuel sites, and we got it done. All agencies are now reducing carbon and tailpipe emissions with cleaner renewable diesel, helping DCAS meet our 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction target by 2025. In fact, this winter, all DSNY trucks used renewable diesel exclusively during the cold and snow season. New York City stands ready to electrify these vehicles when there are market solutions, and we are collaborating with vehicle manufacturers to fast-track a robust electric vehicle market.”
Since the start of the transition in September 2023, renewable diesel has replaced more than 12 million gallons of fossil diesel, and already has been used to power the city’s fleet of garbage trucks, ambulances, work trucks, emergency generators, and more. Renewable diesel can reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60 percent compared to regular diesel, all while meeting the same operating specifications as regular diesel. Unlike biodiesel, which is limited to use in blends of five percent to 20 percent with regular diesel, renewable diesel can be used as a full replacement of fossil diesel while still delivering the same environmental benefits as biodiesel.
Today’s announcement builds on the city’s efforts to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. In April 2024, the administration won $77 million in federal grants to electrify 180 school buses and build a first-in-the-nation electric truck charging depot at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center. In May 2024, DCAS released its Clean Fleet Update, highlighting that the city had surpassed 5,000 plug-in electric vehicles and installed 2,000 electric charging port. To date, over 70 percent of the city’s fleet — more than 21,000 fleet units — now use sustainable fuels, including electric, hybrid electric, solar, and biofuel vehicles. In August, the administration won a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to build the nation’s largest curbside electric vehicle charging program. Additionally, the city has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to make it easier for New Yorkers to use more sustainable modes of transportation. That includes expanding Fair Fares for half-priced subway fares and creating a similar program for the NYC Ferry, building record levels of bike lane mileage and a historic expansion of the city’s outer-borough greenway network, advancing generational transit-oriented housing development projects, and more.
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