Hempstead Town To Pilot New Electric Garbage Truck

HEMPSTEAD TOWN, NY — Just in time for Earth Day, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin today announced “Vision 2040,” a commitment to convert the town's entire fleet to clean energy electric vehicles by the year 2040.

Along with colleagues on the Hempstead Town Board, Clavin previewed a state-of-the-art Mack LR Electric garbage truck, currently deployed by New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), at Rath Park in Franklin Square. Clavin also announced a plan to make the Town of Hempstead the first municipality on Long Island to test out the Mack LR Electric Truck by the end of this year.

“As manufacturers race to devise the latest green technology, we at the Town of Hempstead are thrilled to take the proactive step by piloting this cutting-edge Mack LR Electric Garbage truck by the end of this year,” Clavin said. “As part of ‘Vision 2040,’ we plan to pilot more clean energy vehicles across our various departments, pursue grants and incentives, and implement the necessary infrastructure required to maintain a successful electric fleet.”

DSNY’s LR Electric is only one of two currently in the world, and the Town of Hempstead would be pilot a new vehicle that should be completed and ready to test by the end of this year. The town is already in the process of introducing new electric vehicles to its current fleet, and exploring the implementation of new charging stations at town facilities.

The Town of Hempstead has a history of supporting green-energy initiatives. In Point Lookout, the town was the first on Long Island to open a hydrogen fueling station in 2011, as well as implementing a 100-kilowatt wind turbine, a solar field, solar trackers, geothermal energy, solar charging stations at two marinas and an array of solar energy projects at government facilities.

“I’d like to thank Commissioner Grayson, Deputy Commissioner DiRico, and the entire Department of Sanitation for their commitment to sustainability and assisting the Town of Hempstead in our transition to Battery Electric Vehicles,” Clavin said. “We would like to join them in their ownership and enthusiasm for clean air. We salute DSNY for its compliance with New York City’s Executive Order 53 to convert to a fully electric fleet. Along with my colleagues on the Town Board, I look forward to moving swiftly on ‘Vision 2040’ to work toward a clean energy fleet for America’s largest township.”