ULSTER COUNTY GREEN FLEET POLICY

The Ulster County Sustainable Green Fleet Policy was adopted by the Ulster County Legislature in August of 2015 and approved by the County Executive in September of 2015. The Green Fleet Policy recognizes the environmental and economic impact of County government fleet operations and details ways in which to reduce these costs and impacts. The law sets forward requirements to inventory the fleet, monitor fleet fuel usage and optimize the usage application of existing vehicles. It also requires the purchase of new green fleet vehicles to meet a green fleet goal; ensuring that a minimum of 5% of the fleet by 2020 are Green vehicles, and 20% of passenger vehicles purchased, leased or otherwise obtained thereafter will be Green. 

Read the full policy here: Local Law #9 of 2015 Establishing a Sustainable Green Fleet Policy 

GREEN FLEET ANNUAL REPORT

The Green Fleet Policy requires an annual report to be filed on or before March 1st with the County Executive and the Ulster County Legislative Standing Committee assigned with the Department of the Environment and any other Committee as determined by the Clerk of the Legislature.

 GREEN FLEET INITIATIVES

  • PUBLIC TRANSIT ELECTRIFICATION: Ulster County is planning for electricification of its UC Area Transit (UCAT) vehicle fleet. In 2021, the County completed a NYSERDA-funded Bus Fleet Electrification Study that assessed the feasibility for implementing electric bus service in Ulster County and the suitability of individual UCAT routes to be operated with electric vehicles utilizing current-day technology. It also provided recommendations for infrastructure improvements to accommodate future demands of electric vehicles and presented a preliminary phased implementation plan towards full implementation over the next 10+ years. The full report can be accessed here: UCAT Bus Fleet Electrification Study - Final Report
  • EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE:  Ulster County currently operates twenty EV charging stations in eleven locations. All stations are powered by 100% renewable energy. See more detail here: Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
  • UC GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE COMMUTES: Ulster County Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions inventory reporting shows that County government employees' average daily commute accounts for approximately 20% of the County's total GHG emissions. Initiatives to reduce the government employee commute emissions include:
  • Ulster County Greener Commuting- Ulster County Greener Commuting is a 511NY Rideshare service portal offered to County government employees and sponsored by the NYS Department of Transportation. Employees use the service to find information on carpooling, transit, EV charging stations, and information on biking to work. The Bike Buddy options helps employees find 'buddies' to bike to work with. UC government employees can visit https://511nyrideshare.org/web/ulster-county-greener-commuting/home on the intranet to sign up.  
  • Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging- Ulster County joined the US Department of Energy (DOE) Workplace Charging Challenge in 2015. Approximately 97% of UC government employees now have access to EV charging at their workplace.
  • Public Transit Incentives- Ulster County Area Transit bus rides are only 30 cents for all UC government employees (with proof of UC employee ID badge). 
  • Carbon Offsets- Ulster County offsets all indirect carbon emissions attributed to employee commutes through the purchase of Climate Action Reserve-certified offset credits. A carbon offset credit is a certificate which represents the reduction or sequestration of one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.