By 2029, nearly a quarter of Denver city fleet vehicles could be electric, according to Mayor Michael Hancock, who announced the city’s commitment during the fifth annual Sustainable Denver Summit on Thursday.

Under the pledge, an estimated 850 city vehicles will be replaced by electric ones, which could take up to 11,500 tons of emissions out of the air. Transportation is a leading source of air pollution in Denver and accounts for nearly 30% of its carbon emissions.

“Leading the change isn’t just about setting nice goals – it’s about turning those goals into the way we do business as a city. That’s why we’re going to make it a standard practice to replace our city fleet vehicles, where we can, with EVs,” Hancock said. “This is an actionable step we can take right now to make a real impact on this issue.”

The city’s commitment aligns with Hancock’s $2 billion Mobility Action Plan, which intends to reduce 80% of emissions by 2050. The initiative’s goal is to cut back on single-occupancy vehicle commuters by encouraging shifts to alternative, cleaner modes of transportation; cut transportation-caused carbon pollution; encourage and increase electric-vehicle usage; and make Denver’s transportation network safer.

The city has taken steps to increase electric vehicle usage and infrastructure for the last two years.

For example, the city committed in 2017 to adding 200 electric vehicles to its fleet, which Hancock said will be achieved and surpassed next year.

The Denver Housing Authority also has partnered with the city to pilot Colorado’s first EV car share location at the Mariposa Redevelopment, a mixed-income community.

Hancock’s $1.5 billion 2020 budget was approved by City Council last month and allocates nearly $3 million to purchase more EVs and the infrastructure needed to support them.