Climate Action from Sustainable Newton

Clean Transportation

Our Goal

We reduce climate and air pollution in Newton County by

Accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation alternatives like electric, alternative fuel, and energy-efficient cars and trucks;
Encouraging more trips by walking or bicycling; and
Advocating for the development of public transportation options for county residents.

By burning less fossil fuels, we create lower climate warming emissions and particulate pollution that harms public health. Having more choices also makes transportation more affordable and accessible for everyone.

What's at Stake

Drawdown Georgia researchers report that 41% of Georgia's greenhouse gas emissions originate from cars and trucks on our roadways. But, thanks to data from the Drawdown Georgia Greenhouse Gas Tracker, we know transportation is our county's largest emissions source, contributing a whopping 53% of Newton County's total. Which makes all of Drawdown Georgia's Transportation Sector solutions below relevant for us in our work.

Note: We're prone to geeking out about our electric vehicles and we love telling folks how great they are. But we love walking and biking too. Feel free to skip ahead if you came here to learn about the joys and benefits of getting out of your car for a while. EV-curious, read on...

Charging Ahead with EVs

Since they have no tailpipe -- and because electric motors use energy more efficiently than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles -- electric vehicles (EVs) are much cleaner for the environment. They dramatically reduce not only greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, but also particulate air pollution that causes lung diseases in children and adults. Due to their lower operating costs, EVs are also a more affordable choice for most drivers. And they are just fun to drive! (Trust us, we know from experience!)

How We Accelerate Transition to EVs and Plug-in-Hybrid Vehicles in Newton County:

Collaboration with Local Governments:

In 2020, Sustainable Newton sponsored a project with the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at Georgia Tech to analyze the City of Covington's vehicle fleet and recommend opportunities to "green the fleet" with EVs and alternative fuel vehicles.
As follow-on, we collaborated with Covington officials to install EV Level 2 and Level 3 public EV chargers at key points around the city.
In support of that effort, we assisted the city to identify, apply for, and win state grants to support additional charger installations.
In collaboration with Clean Cities Georgia, we assisted Newton County Schools in applying for federal rebates to fund purchase of electric school buses.

Public Education & Outreach:

We host regular public EV exhibitions at major events -- like the annual Earth Day Celebration at the Cheerio's Challenge.
Though our email newsletter and blog, we share stories of fellow Newton County residents who have made the switch to driving electric. See our Sustainable Stars feature for two of those stories.
Using our web and social media platforms, we communicate the latest information to our members and followers about driving electric.
We also assemble fact-based, real-world information about the environmental and economic benefits of driving electric. Some of which you can see below.

Are EVs Really Cleaner than Gasoline Cars & Trucks?

On the road, EVs are zero-emissions vehicles. But naysayers point to the electricity generated to charge your vehicle as another source of emissions. Yet even when including power plant emissions, the emissions differences may surprise you. To accurately account for power generation emissions, you have to consider the fuel sources used to power the grid where you live. The chart below, from the US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, reflects tailpipe emissions (gasoline) and electricity generation emissions for different light-duty vehicle types in Georgia. Note that nothing can compare to the lower emissions from an all-electric vehicle, but the plug-in hybrid and traditional hybrid (no plug) are still substantially cleaner than gasoline. Both the all-electric and the plug-in hybrid will get cleaner as we add more zero-emissions energy to the electric grid. And, if you charge from solar panels on your home, your emissions today would be zero!

But What About the Battery?

EV skeptics (and oil industry propagandists) argue EVs are not cleaner than gasoline vehicles -- because of the energy and resources required to make batteries. But, while making batteries does add a small amount of upfront manufacturing-related CO2, that is quickly offset by much lower emissions while operating the vehicle, leading to "cradle-to-grave emissions" from EVs that are 52% lower than ICE/gasoline vehicles. With continued investments in adding more renewables to the grid, it's realistic to assume that by 2035, EVs will be 80% cleaner than ICE vehicles, according an analysis performed by Argonne National Laboratory.

Enough with All the Charts & Data

The real problem with comparing EVs with gasoline vehicles is not understanding how electric vehicles work. It's actually all of the shortcomings of the internal combustion engine and the massive impacts of our fossil-fuel economy that we just accept as business as usual. When you facture those into the equation, the switch to driving electric is a "no-brainer."

But rather than bore you to death with more fact and figures, charts and graphs, etc. We suggest instead you take 12 minutes to watch this fun, but informative explainer video that lays it all out.

Come for the Clean, Stay for the Green -- EVs Save You Money

Until recently, the higher purchase price for an EV has been a deterrent to faster transition to driving electric. But the price gap between EVs and gasoline cars and trucks is narrowing quickly, and the lower fuel costs (electricity vs gasoline) plus lower maintenance expense make EVs the clear winner economically. Below are some tools to help you calculate how much you could save by driving electric.

Compare Total Cost of Ownership for Up to Eight Vehicles

The US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center publishes a Vehicle Cost Calculator, that lets you compare operating costs and emissions savings for up to eight different vehicles at one time. Their tool lets you customize the analysis to consider your weekly driving patterns, as well as long-distance trips you may take throughout the year. It also allows you to tweak data on cost of gasoline and electricity where you live. The end result is a very detailed total cost of ownership analysis that can help you make smart choices about when to shop for a new vehicle and which ones to prioritize when shopping.

Before You Choose the Gasoline Model of the All-Electric, See This

While some carmakers sell only all-electric models, many brands offer gasoline, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric models of essentially the same car. Comparing the purchase price and operational costs between these can be a really instructive lesson in the savings from going all-electric. The folks at the Zero Emissions Transportation Association (ZETA) recently published a highly useful Electricity vs. Gasoline calculator to let you compare annual and lifetime savings from driving the all-electric model vs. the gasoline version in the state where you live.

Be sure to factor in cost savings with sticker price when shopping on the dealer lot.

Still, We Get It: Change Is Hard

You're worried about vehicle range between charges, where you can charge, and if you afford to buy an EV. And where to even start to shop for one. But before you give up, check these out:

Car & Driver's list of most affordable electric vehicles for 2025 includes 21 cars priced below $50,000 -- including eight with a list price of lass than $40,000.
In November 2025, Cars.com published a list of 16 highest-range EVs with an EPA-estimated range of 325 miles or higher, including six vehicles over 400 miles and one (the Lucid Air) over 500.
For a guided search to step you through selecting EVs best suited to your unique needs and driving pattern, check out PlugStar's Shopping Assistant.

How Easy Is Charging? We're Going to Level with You

There are three levels of EV charging that vary in charging speed based on the amount of electricity delivered to your vehicle's charging port:

Level 1 (also called "trickle charging") is accomplished by plugging the charging cord that came with your car into standard 120V outlet. This is the slowest charging rate, typically delivering only a few miles of ranger per hour.
Level 2 uses a 240v power supply to add around 10-25 miles of range every hour (depending on circuit amps and how fast our cars onboard charger operates). All home chargers and many public charging stations are level-2 chargers. At home, they provide a full charge overnight in 4 to 10 hours. In public, they are primarily useful for topping off your charge while shopping, dining out, etc.
Level 3 (also called DC fast chargers) operate on direct current (DC), not AC, delivered from a specialized high-power station. Level 3 is the fastest charging option, adding 20–100 miles of range per minute, and can charge a battery to 80% in 15–60 minutes. These are almost never found in home charging settings.

If you plan to install a 240V, Level 2 home charger, ask your dealer or car manufacturer to provide you with specifications for the charging port(s) on your vehicle and the maximum charging rate (kW) your car can accept. Then provide this information to your electrician.

Charging your EV at home is the most convenient, lowest cost option. But if you rent your home or need to charge on the go, the PlugShare app can help you find nearby stations and check availability, reliability data, etc.

It's Not Just EVs

Only replacing gasoline cars and trucks with EVs is not enough. Full electrification will take decades and, in the end, can't solve all our problems. Our air would be much cleaner, but we would still have traffic congestion with the same number of vehicles on the road, and we would be missing the public health and economic benefits of active transportation modes like walking and biking.

To effectively reduce climate pollution and slow global warming, we must reduce the total miles we drive by replacing short car trips with other modes of travel. That means walking or bicycling for shorter trips to the store, a restaurant, or maybe even to work. And, while our community offers very limited public transportation options today, it also means advocating for investments that give people more clean choices for how to get around. We must build a community where walking and biking are safe, fun, and accessible for all.

We Promote Active Transportation As a Practical, Fun, Safe Solution to Air Quality Issues & Traffic Congestion

Sustainable Newton engages county residents to explain the benefits of active transportation and provide them tools to be safer, more comfortable, and confident carrying out more of their daily routine on foot or by bicycle.

We also work proactively and collaboratively with local governments to prioritize all modes of travel in local transportation projects. By investing in sidewalks, bicycle paths, landscaping, and lighting, we can build a community where we don't all have to drive a car every time we go somewhere.

Our air will be cleaner and our lives will be healthier. For an example of how we work, see our blog post -- 4 Wheels, 2 Wheels, No Wheels -- Go!

The Highway 278 Community Improvement District (CID) is working with the GDOT on road improvements that will include multi-use trails along US-278 through Covington.

At the State, Regional, & Local Level, Active Transportation Is an Essential Solution for Many Reasons

Drawdown Georgia researchers estimate a 1 megaton reduction in CO2 emissions can be achieved by 2030 if we shift 2.5% of car trips to other modes.
Planners with the Atlanta Regional Commission targeted 2.23 megatons of greenhouse gas reduction by 2050 through transportation mode shift.
City of Covington officials adopted a comprehensive plan in 2022 acknowledging the climate, health, traffic mitigation, economic growth benefits of active transportation and complete streets.

"The best-laid schemes of mice and men go oft awry,
and leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy!"

-- from 'To a Mouse' by Robert Burns, 1785

We experienced this in late-summer of 2025 with traffic calming measures the City of Covington installed on Floyd Street. While well-intentioned -- and perhaps necessary to slow speeding -- the traffic islands and bump-outs compromised the existing bike lines and created hazardous conditions for people biking, jogging, or walking on Floyd Street. We expressed our concerns in with a blog post and a 60-signature petition delivered to the mayor and council.

Unfortunately, what's done is done (although we continue to urge city officials to remove bike lane signs and markings east of Elizabeth Street for safety reasons). Still, there are important lessons to be learned and procedures to be enacted if we are serious about achieving the objectives City of Covington officials laid out in their comprehensive plan. Below is our suggestion for how to proceed.

How We Promote Active Transportation Locally by Sustainable Newton

Find out what actions you can take.

Our Other Committees:

Clean Energy
& Efficiency

Waste Reduction
& Diversion

Environmental
Hazards