The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Canal Corporation announced the donation of 13 retired hybrid and fully electric fleet vehicles for use in regional automotive training programs throughout New York State. Donations will enable young people in underserved communities to explore new career opportunities associated with the increasing electrification of vehicles in New York State. NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll today announced the donation of a 2013 Ford Fusion hybrid through NYPA's Environmental Justice department at the Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School in the South Melrose neighborhood of the Bronx. Superintendent Richard Cintron, Principal Evan Schwartz, Dr. Lester W. Young, chancellor of the Board of Regents, and State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa joined in the ribbon-cutting.

"New York State's transition to zero-emission vehicles opens new career paths in our increasingly highly skilled clean energy workforce and we are thrilled to give students the opportunity to develop new sought-after expertise in order to compete in the clean energy economy," Driscoll said. "These retired vehicles from NYPA and Canal Corporation fleets will serve as a practical resource for automotive technicians in maintenance and repair training programs in disadvantaged communities near our assets and ensure a solid, replicable curriculum can be used throughout the state."

This announcement builds on Governor Kathy Hochul's signing of new legislation in September to further advance the transition to clean electric vehicles and reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Through that effort, the Governor set a goal for all new passenger cars and trucks sold in New York State to be zero-emissions by 2035. 

NYPA's Fleet Donation Program is designed to educate the next generation of automotive technicians during the transition to electric vehicles (EV) and ensure the incorporation of hybrid and fully electric vehicle technology within career technical education (CTE) programs in New York State. The program also supports the State's ambitious climate goals through empowering more current and future workers to enter the green energy workforce.

"The Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School is excited to accept this donation of a hybrid car from the New York Power Authority," said Principal Evan Schwartz. "It will be a great addition to our new state-of-the-art auto body shop and provide a practical tool for learning about new green technologies.  We hope that this is just the beginning of a long relationship that will further benefit students who are building their lives toward a bright future."

Last year, NYPA launched a pilot program by donating three hybrid and fully electric vehicles that could no longer be used for state transport to Boards of Cooperative Education Centers (BOCES) institutions across the state for use in their automotive technical training classes. The vehicles went to BOCES programs that serve communities in Albany, Massena and Niagara. NYPA worked with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to secure funding for safety tools, equipment and level 2 chargers for each shop, along with funding for a best-in-class hybrid and EV curriculum to be shared amongst all donation recipients in the present and future.   

More than a dozen more vehicles will be transferred this month to the following regional BOCES and CTE programs located near NYPA or Canal Corporation sites: A-Tech High School in Brooklyn; Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES; McKee CTE High School; Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES; Southern Westchester BOCES; Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES; Hudson Valley Community College; Questar III BOCES in the Capital Region; Monroe 1 BOCES; Ulster BOCES; Franklin County BOCES; and Bronx Community College. Per NYPA policy, the donated vehicles would previously have been sold at auction after five years or 75,000 miles of service were it not for this new program.

New York Power Authority | www.nypa.gov