This week I met with the Capital District Transportation (CDTA) and my good friend from the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) to test drive CDTA’s brand new fully electric scooters, SCOOT, which will be available to capital region residents this summer. This event was more than just showcasing modern technology meeting modern needs, it represented another exciting boost for our upstate cities at a time when growth is essential to our recovery.

In today’s world, the majority of Americans rely on some form of mechanical transportation to complete everyday tasks such as going to work or buying groceries. Yet our common methods of using energy to get around can also affect the health of our land we grow our food on, our clean water supplies and, ultimately, the health of our families.

As a civil engineer and a member of the Assembly’s Committee on Energy, I’ve long fought for and supported new policies that take an innovative approach to tackling these challenges. That’s why I co-sponsored and supported legislation to finally authorize the use of e-scooters and e-bikes on our streets and helped pass a state budget that ensures we do it safely.

Shifting towards fully electric modes of transportation are critical steps in our fight against climate change and I look forward to new projects that ensure a greener, healthier future for our children.