First, thank you to Route Zero and the Clean Vehicles Coalition for the invitation to share remarks about a critically important topic to this community. 

It is my honor to speak here today, in the heart of a city steeped in automotive history — the birthplace of General Motors. More gratifying still is that we are not here to talk about the past but the future, and our role in it. 

The proliferation of clean energy technology in vehicles provides an incredible opportunity to move our community, and communities all over the planet, forward. Every investment in clean energy technology is an investment in both economic growth and public health. As we move toward cleaner transportation options, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also mitigating the health risks associated with air pollution. 

In my role representing Genesee County and its more than 400,000 residents, I’m 100 percent committed to our goal of supporting healthy, safe, and livable communities. Genesee County has been a leader in clean energy transportation for years. All over this community, residents are utilizing a public transportation system that is among the most environmentally friendly anywhere in the country. Just last year, the Mass Transit Authority, which has routes all over the county, traded in the last of its diesel-powered buses as it has transitioned to a hydrogen and alternative fuel bus fleet. These publicly-funded efforts have helped Genesee County become a leader in clean energy public transportation. 

With that in mind, it’s important that we take a moment to recognize important milestones at the local, state, and federal levels that can help us achieve that goal. One great example is the Biden Administration’s introduction of the new clean car standard rule. 

This rule has the potential to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, playing a vital role in combating climate change and safeguarding the quality of life for future generations. Fortunately, we do not have to choose between economic growth and environmental sustainability. We have already witnessed how clean energy vehicles have spurred innovation, investment and employment in the automotive industry in our very own community.

With that in mind, let me say thank you to everyone in this room for being a part of this event, and for your commitment to environmental stewardship, public health and economic development. 

Welcome to Genesee County!