March 18, 2021
The electrification of cars, trucks, and buses is an important strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution, and can lead to cleaner air and healthier communities. As federal policymakers develop infrastructure and climate legislation to create jobs and spur economic recovery, the Georgetown Climate Center and M.J. Bradley & Associates have released Towards Equitable and Transformative Investments in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, to inform federal investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Investments in EV charging present opportunities to advance equity and environmental justice, spur job creation, build the clean energy economy, and address the climate and public health crises facing the United States.
The report provides a summary of the EV charging investments included in recent congressional bills on climate, clean energy, and transportation, and outlines ways federal investments could be designed to be more equitable and transformative. Georgetown Climate Center and M.J. Bradley & Associates provide lessons and examples from previous federal programs, and describe examples of state and local transportation, clean energy, and climate policies that federal policymakers can learn from and build upon. Key themes from the report include:
"Investing in a national network of EV charging infrastructure has the potential to deliver cleaner air and accelerate progress in dealing with climate change. Done right, these investments can also advance equity and environmental justice by reducing air pollution in communities that have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic." said Joe Kruger, Interim Executive Director at the Georgetown Climate Center. "This analysis will help federal policymakers to understand the scale of this opportunity and what steps can be taken to meet it, building on the leading work of states and community groups across the country."
"A strong commitment to charging infrastructure from federal policymakers will be a critical component to spurring and supporting the widespread transportation electrification needed across the U.S.,” said Paul Allen from M.J. Bradley & Associates. “This analysis describes how these efforts can complement state, utility, and private sector efforts to build our communities and reduce emissions.”
Towards Equitable and Transformative Investments in EV Charging Infrastructure.pdf