The state Legislature in Albany is expected to consider a bill that would set air quality standards around the massive warehouses that are popping up across the state to serve the growth of online sellers.
On Long Island alone, more than 11 million square feet of warehouse space has been proposed or built, including a 200,000-square-foot Amazon warehouse in Syosset, but some community leaders oppose large buildings that would bring trucks daily 24 hour access.
The growth of warehouses is the result of the explosive growth of e-commerce led by Amazon, Walmart and Target. These warehouses enable businesses to deliver products as soon as they are ordered online and bring jobs and tax revenue to industrial areas.
The proposed Clean Delivery Act seeks to set standards for air pollution and traffic congestion in mostly low-income areas, often communities of color, from Buffalo to towns along the Long Island Expressway.
The proposal would require a permitting process to evaluate current and future warehouses and incentivize owners to reduce carbon emissions by reducing traffic or using electric fleets, alternative transportation and solar operations. Enhanced mitigation measures are designed to protect nearby schools, playgrounds, parks, hospitals, senior centers, nursing homes and communities.
“As we face future climate disasters, our communities are experiencing the real worsening impacts of health risks, safety risks and natural disasters from these facilities in the form of pollution, traffic violence and natural disasters,” Assemb said. Marcela Mitaynes (D-Brooklyn) is the bill’s sponsor. However, these impacts are not recognized because trucking emissions are not adequately monitored or regulations overseeing these facilities are not effectively implemented.
The bill points to the growth of e-commerce warehouses near major highways from Buffalo to the Hudson Valley, the outer boroughs and Long Island, creating large amounts of truck pollution that threatens the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) next target. The 2019 law requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and by at least 85% by 2050.
“We have worked hard to improve air quality by enacting the nation’s leading CLCPA, cracking down on fossil fuel power plants and pushing for more electrification, but we cannot let these efforts be hampered by the proliferation of e-commerce warehouses,” said Senator Cassirer. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), Senate deputy majority leader and the bill’s sponsor.
Known as warehouse sprawls, the facilities are the size of 15 football pitches and operate in urban industrial areas and suburbs with quick access to major highways, reducing delivery times to homes and businesses. Warehouse usage was already increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, but demand for e-commerce and the warehouses that support it has rapidly accelerated during and after the pandemic.
Hundreds of trucks currently flow in and out of the warehouses around the clock in the Bronx, Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley and northern cities, as well as along the Long Island Expressway. The warehouses can be built on top of old buildings or renovated without requiring public review or permits in areas already zoned for industrial use.
However, the bill says these large warehouses were not contemplated by previous zoning and air quality protections. Trucks traveling to and from these facilities are creating pollution hot spots, unlike smaller, older-generation warehouses where fewer deliveries arrive and depart, according to the state proposal.
The bill is intended to regulate noise, road damage, the formation of summer heat islands, stormwater runoff and accidents that can be caused by large warehouses. It only applies to owners and operators of warehouses that are 50,000 square feet or more, or warehouses with 500,000 square feet or more of heavy-duty distribution warehouse space.
Spokespersons for Amazon, Target and Walmart, the e-commerce leader, did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment.
The company’s website notes ongoing environmental quality work.
Amazon has set its own goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Traditionally, these trips have been made by gas-powered internal combustion engine vehicles, Amazon said in its 2022 annual report. While these remain common across the industry, we are working to decarbonise our own last-mile fleet using low-emission options including electric vehicles, electric cargo bikes (e-bikes) and walking deliveries.
That includes adding 2,600 electric vehicles to its U.S. operations last year, with a goal of adding 100,000 vehicles by 2030.
According to the Walmart Sustainability Report, Walmart aims to reduce or avoid 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and has achieved more than 750 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions this year.
Target says it is on track to meet its 2030 goal of 100% renewable electricity. Target said it had achieved a mid-term milestone of generating 60% of its electricity from renewable energy and halving emissions from 2017. The company said it donated more than $100 million to local Black communities near its operations between 2015 and 2021.
Alok Disa, senior research and policy analyst at Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law advocate, called the moves “very optimistic climate goals for what they’re talking about in the press release, especially now.”
They did a great job advertising it, but they didn’t think it should be voluntary,” Disa said. “They should get to zero emissions at the pace set by our government officials.
Disa said whether you live in a community near these facilities or a community without these large warehouses, you will see the impact it has on the roadways and traffic in your community. We just think it’s time for traffic rules. “
The state Legislature in Albany is expected to consider a bill that would set air quality standards around the massive warehouses that are popping up across the state to serve the growth of online sellers.
On Long Island alone, more than 11 million square feet of warehouse space has been proposed or built, including a 200,000-square-foot Amazon warehouse in Syosset, but some community leaders oppose large buildings that would bring trucks daily 24 hour access.
The growth of warehouses is the result of the explosive growth of e-commerce led by Amazon, Walmart and Target. These warehouses enable businesses to deliver products as soon as they are ordered online and bring jobs and tax revenue to industrial areas.
The proposed Clean Delivery Act seeks to set standards for air pollution and traffic congestion in mostly low-income areas, often communities of color, from Buffalo to towns along the Long Island Expressway.
what to know
- state legislature A bill is expected to be considered that would set air quality standards around large warehouses that serve online sellers across the state.
- The bill points to growth Warehouses produce so much truckload pollution that they threaten the state’s goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
- This proposal will A permitting process is needed to evaluate current and future warehouses and incentivize owners to reduce emissions by reducing traffic or using electric fleets, alternative transportation and solar operations.
The proposal would require a permitting process to evaluate current and future warehouses and incentivize owners to reduce carbon emissions by reducing traffic or using electric fleets, alternative transportation and solar operations. Enhanced mitigation measures are designed to protect nearby schools, playgrounds, parks, hospitals, senior centers, nursing homes and communities.
“As we face future climate disasters, our communities are experiencing the real worsening impacts of health risks, safety risks and natural disasters from these facilities in the form of pollution, traffic violence and natural disasters,” Assemb said. Marcela Mitaynes (D-Brooklyn) is the bill’s sponsor. However, these impacts are not recognized because trucking emissions are not adequately monitored or regulations overseeing these facilities are not effectively implemented.
Large warehouses “spread”
The bill points to the growth of e-commerce warehouses near major highways from Buffalo to the Hudson Valley, the outer boroughs and Long Island, creating large amounts of truck pollution that threatens the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) next target. The 2019 law requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and by at least 85% by 2050.
“We have worked hard to improve air quality by enacting the nation’s leading CLCPA, cracking down on fossil fuel power plants and pushing for more electrification, but we cannot let these efforts be hampered by the proliferation of e-commerce warehouses,” said Senator Cassirer. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), Senate deputy majority leader and the bill’s sponsor.
Known as warehouse sprawls, the facilities are the size of 15 football pitches and operate in urban industrial areas and suburbs with quick access to major highways, reducing delivery times to homes and businesses. Warehouse usage was already increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, but demand for e-commerce and the warehouses that support it has rapidly accelerated during and after the pandemic.
Hundreds of trucks currently flow in and out of the warehouses around the clock in the Bronx, Brooklyn, the Hudson Valley and northern cities, as well as along the Long Island Expressway. The warehouses can be built on top of old buildings or renovated without requiring public review or permits in areas already zoned for industrial use.
However, the bill says these large warehouses were not contemplated by previous zoning and air quality protections. Trucks traveling to and from these facilities are creating pollution hot spots, unlike smaller, older-generation warehouses where fewer deliveries arrive and depart, according to the state proposal.
The bill seeks to regulate noise, road damage, the formation of summer heat islands, stormwater runoff and accidents that can occur with large warehouses. It only applies to owners and operators of warehouses that are 50,000 square feet or more, or warehouses with 500,000 square feet or more of heavy-duty distribution warehouse space.
Company goals
Spokespersons for Amazon, Target and Walmart, the e-commerce leader, did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment.
The company’s website notes ongoing environmental quality work.
Amazon has set its own goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Traditionally, these trips have been made by gas-powered internal combustion engine vehicles, Amazon said in its 2022 annual report. While these remain common across the industry, we are working to decarbonise our own last-mile fleet using low-emission options including electric vehicles, electric cargo bikes (e-bikes) and walking deliveries.
That includes adding 2,600 electric vehicles to its U.S. operations last year, with a goal of adding 100,000 vehicles by 2030.
According to the Walmart Sustainability Report, Walmart aims to reduce or avoid 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and has achieved more than 750 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions this year.
Target says it is on track to meet its 2030 goal of 100% renewable electricity. Target said it had achieved a mid-term milestone of generating 60% of its electricity from renewable energy and halving emissions from 2017. The company said it donated more than $100 million to local Black communities near its operations between 2015 and 2021.
Alok Disa, senior research and policy analyst at Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law advocate, called the moves “very optimistic climate goals for what they’re talking about in the press release, especially now.”
They did a great job advertising it, but they didn’t think it should be voluntary,” Disa said. “They should get to zero emissions at the pace set by our government officials.
Disa said whether you live in a community near these facilities or a community without these large warehouses, you will see the impact it has on the roadways and traffic in your community. We just think it’s time for traffic rules. “
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