City Council May 20, 2020
Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy
SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
Calling the City of Chicago to Expand Drive Clean Chicago Programming
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of local government under Article VII, Section 6(a) of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois with the power to regulate for the protection ofthe public health, safety, morals and welfare; and,
WHEREAS, on February 19, 2020, the City of Chicago declared a Climate Emergency and resolved to develop a budget that promotes urgent climate action (R2020-81); and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago launched an Industrial Corridor Modernization Initiative, which includes goals to unleash the potential of select industrial areas for advanced manufacturing and technology-oriented jobs while reinforcing traditional industrial activities in other areas (see Chicago Department of Planning and Development, May 14, 2020; ); and,
WHEREAS, City of Chicago residents living adjacent to Industrial Corridors call for justice regarding the inequitable distribution of emissions and other hazards associated with manufacturing land uses; and,
WHEREAS, the goals of achieving climate resiliency and sustainable economic practices can be consistent and compatible with the goals of Industrial Corridor Modernization; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago remains a heavy shipping corridor due to its manufacturing strengths, as evidenced by preliminary data analysis published by Michael Hawthorne in the Chicago Tribune (May 14, 2020; ); and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago formed Drive Clean Chicago, which partners Chicago Department of Transportation with CALSTART to implement a greater alternative fuel transportation network for Chicago (see ); and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago can achieve sustainable economic practices by expanding the Drive Clean Chicago program to further develop clean energy fleets that operate within and adjacent to the City's Industrial Corridors; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago can use available resources from Federal and State funding programs, including the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, to expand Drive Clean Chicago to ensure that Chicago has an advanced fleet of clean energy vehicles ready to meet its manufacturing needs.
NOW BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Chicago shall recognize that Drive Clean Chicago meets several of its manufacturing land use planning and environmental sustainability goals, and shall be expanded;
NOW BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Mayor's Office and City Council of City of Chicago shall support and encourage Chicago Department of Transportation efforts to procure funds that are available for clean energy fleet vehicles by seeking:
Daniel La Spata Alderman, 1st Ward
A portion of the budgeted $70 million for State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency regarding vehicle electrification programs.
To continue or expand financing efforts from USDOT's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
Additional State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency financing, including VW settlement funds.