Moving the Needle on Electric Vehicles
By Nadia Anderson, WTS-DC
November 2022
Congress' passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) reflects a fundamental shift in how the US approaches and funds its transportation systems. The $1.2 trillion law includes one of the largest-ever investments in electric vehicles in US history. And eligible entities are charged with doing so in ways that are not only innovative and impactful, but collaborative and inclusive.
In real time, eligible entities from the public and private sectors are working on implementation, which means navigating a changing political and practical landscape and working on initiatives that in many ways feel futuristic based on EV adoption. The new landscape is ripe with questions about what this refocus means in theory and practice, specifically for those working to implement programs and related projects. On November 3, 2022, WTS-DC and YPT-DC co-sponsored a virtual panel featuring industry leaders who are driving EV adoption around the country.
WTS-DC President Katie Kraft opened the panel, and legislative committee member Nadia Anderson, PhD, laid the foundation for the conversation based on professional experience in the fields of energy and transportation. Leslie Aguayo, Climate Equity Program Manager at The Greenlining Institute, started the conversation reminding attendees of the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on equity and the importance of substantively engaging members of the community. Cherish Smith, Director for Energy and Sustainability and Infrastructure at Guidehouse, shared insights into the world of public-private partnerships and the role of utilities in transportation electrification. Jannine Miller, Director of Planning at the Georgia Department of Transportation, rounded out the conversation by sharing how her home state is working to support EV adoption and the rollout of related infrastructure.
The panel members also touched on top-of-mind issues, including the supply vs. demand dichotomy for EV charging infrastructure and the role of various stakeholders, including advocates and the utilities. Our discussion concluded with remarks from each panelist regarding ways to engage new communities and how to measure the impact of both new and existing programs focused on electrification. While each panelist came to the conversation with their respective points of view, all agreed that we’re past the “chicken and egg” question and need to work in new and different ways to meet shared goals of an inclusive and sustainable transportation landscape.
WTS-DC thanks all our panelists for participating in the virtual discussion!