Public Utility Commission issues recommendations to accelerate electric vehicle use in Vermont
Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Public Utility Commission issued a report that describes ways to promote the ownership and use of electric vehicles (EVs) in Vermont. The report sets forth extensive recommendations for actions to be taken by State government, electric utilities, and third-party suppliers and installers of EV charging equipment to accelerate the transition to electric transportation. Recommendations include creating state incentives for the purchase of EVs and encouraging electric utilities to develop new rate structures that make Vermont an economically welcoming place for both EV drivers and charging station operators.
The transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Vermont. Despite strong State policy designed to combat climate change, fossil-fuel emissions in Vermont continue to rise – due in large part to emissions from cars and trucks. With its reliance on gasoline and diesel, transportation accounts for 47% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions – outdistancing all other sectors, including residential and commercial heating. For this reason, Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in Vermont’s transportation sector to 10% by 2025 and 80% by 2050. The Plan also seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector by 30% by 2025.
The report is also available on the PUC website or by clicking image.
As of January 2019, there were 2,985 EVs registered in Vermont. Estimates for how many EVs must be registered in Vermont to meet the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Energy Plan range from 50,000 to 60,000 vehicles by 2025. The pace of EV adoption needed to reach 60,000 vehicles by 2025 is an approximately 54% compound annual growth rate.
“If Vermont is going to meet its statutory greenhouse-gas reduction goals, it is critical that we do everything possible to encourage the switch to electric vehicles. Besides fighting climate change, this will also save Vermonters money in driving and maintenance costs,” said Commission Chair Anthony Z. Roisman. “The Commission appreciates the considerable time and effort that a large number of participants put into this investigation.”
The PUC's conclusion reads:
"Vermont has set ambitious goals for reducing GHG emissions in the state. While great strides have been made in reducing the state’s carbon footprint in the electric energy sector, much remains to be done in the transportation sector.
"Vermont is a rural state featuring long commutes for many of its residents, at times in difficult and demanding conditions. If the State is to meet its GHG reduction goals, more Vermonters will need to choose EVs as their main mode of transport. While Vermonters have shown an interest in EVs, much remains to be done in promoting and enabling their use so that they become a common means of transport—to become the rule rather than the exception.
"The most often cited barriers to widespread EV adoption are the limited range an EV can travel on a single charge, limited availability of charging opportunities, and the acquisition cost of EVs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
"Additional perceived negatives are a lack of vehicle choice and misconceptions about vehicle performance.
"There is much the State can do to address the primary barriers to widespread EV adoption.
"Range anxiety can be addressed through increased deployment of public EV charging stations. The up-front costs of purchasing an EV can be mitigated through incentive programs, better education, and coordination among Vermont’s electric utilities and EV dealerships to help dispel perceived negatives and yield a better-informed population regarding the benefits of traveling by EV."
The Commission’s report is the product of a nine-month investigation that consisted of a series of written filings and all-day workshops. Participants included representatives of State agencies, electric utilities, environmental advocates, charging networks, and other members of the public and private sectors.
The Commission opened the investigation and prepared the report in response to Section 25 of Act 158 of the 2017-2018 Vermont legislative session. For more information about the investigation or the report, contact: PUC Deputy General Counsel John Cotter, 802-828-2358, [email protected].
The July 1, 2019, report, as well as all other orders and documents related to the investigation, can be found by searching for Case No. 18-2660-INV on ePUC, the Commission’s online document-management system.
Source: Montpelier, VT, June 27, 2019 – PUC