Dear NRDC Activist,

We’re at a turning point in our fight to stop the USPS from purchasing a new fleet of mostly antiquated gas-guzzling delivery trucks — and we need your help.

USPS is still trying to lock us into more carbon pollution for decades to come — but now there’s a new chance to slam the brakes on their dangerous scheme.

Earlier this year, NRDC and our allies delivered over 500,000 messages and filed a joint lawsuit to stop the United States Postal Service (USPS) from moving forward with its illegal, anti-environment plan — the brainchild of none other than Trump-era appointee Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

Thanks to our advocacy, USPS will now conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to assess the true costs of their plan.

That means we have another chance to submit public comments imploring them to do what’s best for the planet and transition to a fleet of 100% electric vehicles (EVs).

Can we count on you to submit a public comment to USPS before the July 25 deadline?

President Biden has directed the federal government to transition to 100% zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. Yet, the USPS plan would force through an $11.3 billion expenditure for trucks that will be on the road for decades spewing out carbon pollution, continuing air pollution in communities already burdened by dirty air, and pushing us closer to the brink of climate catastrophe — all while blatantly flouting the President's deadline.

USPS operates THE largest fleet of government vehicles in the country, with nearly 250,000 trucks in service. According to their own analysis, the new USPS fleet would use almost 110 million gallons of gas per year and average less than 9 miles per gallon. But that original proposal relied on faulty data — assuming gas prices would be under $3 in 2040 — and a flawed environmental analysis that significantly underestimated the plan’s climate and community impacts.

Switching to EVs could allow USPS vehicles to get the equivalent of over 100 miles per gallon. One study found that the USPS would save over $4 billion in potential fuel and maintenance savings from electric vehicles — a fact not lost on the rest of the delivery industry. Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and DHL have all made significant investments and commitments to electrify their fleets.

We must transition to a 100% clean energy future as soon as possible in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change. We can’t afford to let USPS, or any other government agency, stall out in the past.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major climate progress that will pay dividends for decades. Will you submit a public comment imploring USPS to go 100% electric?

And it's even more urgent that we act now to slash carbon pollution given the recent devastating West Virginia v. EPA Supreme Court ruling that narrows the EPA's ability to limit climate-busting carbon emissions from power plants. This ratchets up the pressure to tackle climate change anywhere and everywhere we can.

Together, we’ve already made our voices heard in defense of our clean energy future — and pressured USPS to amend their plan. I know we can do it again.

Can we count on you to submit a public comment to get USPS to do its part to fight the climate crisis and save money by investing in electric vehicles?

Thank you for fighting with us.

Sincerely,

Britt Carmon
Senior Advocate, Federal Clean Vehicles & Fuels, NRDC