Westchester, Suffolk Commit To Electrify County Vehicles By 2030

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Both Westchester and Suffolk counties will be developing plans to convert their vehicle fleets to electric by 2030.

Westchester's County Executive George Latimer and Suffolk's County Executive Steve Bellone signed dual executive orders Monday at a news conference directing their respective county departments to start planning the conversion.

Latimer and Bellone committed to a joint procurement for electric vehicles and said the plans will inform the process to achieve zero-emissions fleets in Suffolk and Westchester counties.

Bellone said everyone is at risk from climate change.

"Particularly on Long Island where we are surrounded by water," he said.

"We are going to tackle this issue head-on and do something that is forward-leaning," Bellone said.

He said the counties will direct their agencies to up come up with plans within 90 days to electrify their fleets by 2030.

Latimer said counties work together, sharing services, because the people demand it.

"To get that concrete result, you must cooperate with people," he said.

Latimer said federal resources will be tapped to help pay for the purchases.

"However we finance it," he said, "it will have societal benefit that will save us money in the long haul."