Chicago City Council Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
September 14, 2021
SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE CITY OF CHICAGO COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TO HOLD SUBJECT MATTER HEARINGS ON FLEET ELECTRIFICATION
WHEREAS, Climate change has devastated and is expected to continue to devastate the globe, the United States, and the City of Chicago (City) with an estimated global economic impact of $23 trillion dollars if there is no action taken within the next coming decades; and
WHEREAS, The City has experienced major weather impacts due to climate change, including significant flooding and erosion resulting in millions of dollars of repairs and mitigation; and
WHEREAS, The City has a responsibility on an economic, moral, public health, and safety level to combat climate change; and
WHEREAS, The City recognizes the disparate impact climate change will continue to have without action, especially, on communities of color and lower socioeconomic status populations as demonstrated through its We Will Chicago initiative; and
WHEREAS, In April 2021, the City and Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot committed to four climate and energy goals: 1. Comprehensive Action Plan, 2. Chicago Zero Net Carbon Buildings Strategy Plan, 3. Electricity Franchise Agreement, and 4. Clean Energy Transition Planning; and
WHEREAS, Keeping the City's Electricity Franchise Agreement in mind, the City operates and maintains a large fleet of vehicles across several departments and agencies that are essential to delivering city services; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that the City implement a proactive fleet electrification goal through public, nonprofit, and public/private partnerships to achieve its climate action plan goals and become a leader in combating climate change; and
WHEREAS, In order for the City to implement a more proactive fleet electrification goal, the City must first better understand why fleet electrification is crucial to the advancement of health and environmental justice, and learn from national leaders in the fleet electrification space; and, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Members of the City Council, call on the City of Chicago Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development to hold hearings to better understand why fleet electrification is crucial and learn from national leaders in the fleet electrification space in effort to implement a more proactive fleet electrification goal.
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36lh Ward Principal Sponsor