Amid record Prime Day profits and massive truck traffic, Assemblywoman Marcela Mitaynes and ElectrifyNY coalition call for clean deliveries

Albany, New York —

Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17 were Amazon’s annual “Prime Days.” Prime Day, billed as a “shopping event with deals exclusive to Prime members,” has historically generated more than $12.9 billion in sales on the e-commerce platform from the purchase of more than 375 million items. This year’s Prime Day was Amazon’s largest and most profitable ever since the event began in 2015, with an estimated $14.2 billion in sales in just 48 hours.

While Prime Day tempts consumers with eye-popping deals on tempting products, the day is far from festive for the one in four New Yorkers who live within a half-mile of the mega-warehouses essential to Amazon and other e-commerce companies. E-commerce mega-warehouses generate significant emissions because of the large number of delivery trucks that come and go from each facility. According to EDF’s Warehouse Boom report, 4.9 million residents live within a half-mile of a rental warehouse of 50,000 square feet or more. Unlike traditional warehouses, these e-commerce warehouses are larger, with some of them being larger than 15 football fields.

These mega-warehouses operate 24/7 and emit greenhouse gases on a scale equal to those of power plants and factories. Trucks leaving the warehouses emit particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, worsening local air quality and increasing the risk of asthma, heart attacks, and premature deaths in the area. These impacts are far from evenly distributed—of the 4.9 million residents living near warehouses, 315,000 are under the age of five, and 649,000 are over the age of 64. Black, Latino/Hispanic, and low-income populations live near warehouses at rates that are more than 59 percent, 48 percent, and 42 percent higher, respectively, than would be expected based on statewide demographics. The health and safety impacts of these warehouses affect communities already burdened by historically embedded housing discrimination and racially biased land-use planning.

In response to the hundreds of thousands of items already purchased on Prime Day and the hundreds more polluting truck trips needed to deliver those items, the ElectrifyNY Coalition is calling for the Clean Deliveries Act (S.2127A/A.1718A), a common-sense environmental justice bill introduced by New York Senate Deputy President Michael Gianaris (NY-District 12) and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes (NY-District 51). The bill would require the state to review emissions associated with large warehouses and require warehouse operators to choose from a range of actions to minimize pollution. The bill would also commission a study of the feasibility, benefits, and costs of implementing low- and zero-emission zones for areas with high air pollution and congestion. In addition to broad statewide support, the bill passed the New York State Senate last session.

“Sunset Park and Red Hook, like many working-class communities of color across New York State, have been the sites of increasingly large last-mile warehouses that send trucks into our neighborhoods every day. That impact is even more acute today as billions of dollars of purchases are made due to Prime Day. The surge in vehicle-intensive e-commerce, in addition to New York State’s ongoing failure to comply with federal air quality standards, suggests that regulation of warehouses and other indirect sources is necessary to improve air quality and protect public health. Passing the Clean Deliveries Act is a priority for our residents,” he said. Marcela Mitaynes MP.

“This week, millions of online shoppers will take advantage of deep discounts and free shipping on Amazon Prime Day. But the real cost of these deliveries is their impact on disadvantaged communities and our climate. In the hottest summer on record, we must hold the e-commerce industry accountable for its role in fueling the climate crisis. We must pass the Clean Deliveries Act,” he said. Jaqi Cohen, Climate and Equity Policy Director at Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

“Big e-commerce companies like Amazon are celebrating record profits and sales at the expense of the environment and health of low-income communities of color who live near these sites. These are the same communities that have suffered from long-term exposure to toxic pollution due to decades of environmental racism and disinvestment. We need the Clean Deliveries Act to hold big e-commerce companies accountable for their contribution to air pollution and protect environmental justice communities across the state,” he said. Kevin Garcia, Senior Transportation Planner, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.

“The Clean Deliveries Act is another common sense piece of legislation that has passed the state Senate and is waiting for our Assembly and Governor to start taking the climate and pollution crisis seriously. It will help protect the health and well-being of millions of New Yorkers from fossil fuel pollution, and companies like Amazon can implement it for a fraction of the sales of a single day like today if our leaders show real leadership on environmental issues,” he said. Anshul Gupta, Director of Policy and Research at New Yorkers for Clean Power.

“Behind the glow of Amazon’s record sales and the convenience of faster shipping times are hidden costs, from traffic jams and air pollution to unsafe working conditions. Prime Day will hit the one in four New Yorkers who live within a half-mile of one of the mega-warehouses that underpin the entire e-commerce sector — and that cause trucks to drive around the clock, pumping unhealthy pollutants into the air and lungs of neighboring communities. We need lawmakers to support the Clean Deliveries Act, which would provide clean air for millions of New Yorkers and ensure that e-commerce emissions are no longer left unregulated,” he said. Alok Disa, senior research and policy analyst at Earthjustice.

“Pollution generated by traffic spikes during events like Amazon Prime Day is a contributing factor to, not a solution to, our efforts to advance New York City’s ambitious climate goals,” he said. Mo-Yain Tham, New York-based policy manager for Jobs to Move America.

Background

The Clean Supply Act establishes an indirect source control (ISR) program for certain storage operations and requires the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a study on zero emission zones.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Emissions overview for all e-commerce warehouses larger than 50,000 square feet.
• An air emission control and mitigation plan that requires warehouse operators to minimize pollution by implementing one or more of the following actions:
  • Purchasing zero-emission vehicles and charging infrastructure
  • On-site installation of solar panels and/or batteries
  • Consider alternative means of transport for inbound or outbound travel, where appropriate
  • Payment of additional fees
• Enhanced protection for warehouses operating in disadvantaged communities or impacting schools and similar facilities
• Permit requirements for new warehouse developments or those proposing significant modifications
• Current reporting requirements related to truck traffic and emission control measures
• Zero Emission Zones Study on the Feasibility, Benefits, and Costs of Implementing Low and Zero Emission Zones Designated for High Air Pollution and Congestion in New York State

New York State is a leader in clean energy, passing the groundbreaking Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) in 2019, adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule in 2021, and enacting the Advance Clean Cars II (ACCII) Rule in 2022 to reduce economy-wide emissions and promote a just transition to a zero-emission transportation sector. Passing the Clean Deliveries Act is a critical next step toward implementing New York State’s climate mandates and ensuring that New Yorkers burdened by fossil fuel emissions are prioritized for zero-emission investments.

Electrifying is a statewide coalition of environmental justice, public transportation, social justice, and good jobs advocates fighting for a clean, equitable, electric transportation future for New York City. Our work aims to improve environmental and public health outcomes for communities most negatively impacted by the transportation sector’s dependence on fossil fuels.