Today, Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Secretary Deb Markowitz announced that Vermont was joining a regional effort to open Vermont up to electric vehicles, through the Northeast Electric Vehicle Network (Network). The Network is a product of the Transportation and Climate Initiative of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast States (TCI). TCI is a partnership of the region's state energy, environmental and transportation agencies working to address transportation-related emissions, and energy security.
Markowitz said, ‘Vermont is pleased to be part of the Climate Initiative and we are excited to take this meaningful and necessary first step to build the infrastructure needed to help transition the Northeast to electric vehicles.’ The Network, supported by a million dollar DOE Clean Cities grant, will bring the region's utilities and other private sector interests together, provide consistent guidelines throughout the region for the siting, permitting, and installation of charging stations, and identify charging needs at a regional level.
"Transportation is one of the largest sectors of energy use in Vermont and the greatest contributor of green house gases, a major cause of climate change. Shifting transportation fuels from a dependency on fossil fuels to electricity from renewable sources is critical in meeting state and regional climate change commitments," said Markowitz. ‘By deploying charging stations along the northeast corridor, the Network will speed up deployment of electric vehicles, support emerging technologies and build consumer confidence. Drivers of this new generation of cars will have the security that as they travel from Washington DC to Quebec, vehicle charging opportunities will be available in every state along the way.’
The recently released state Comprehensive Energy Plan identifies the economic challenges associated with transportation energy being fully dependent on fossil fuels. "Diversifying our transportation energy options is a must,’ said Elizabeth Miller, Commissioner of Public Service Department. "Vermont's commitment to an electric grid powered by renewables means electric vehicles of the future will be powered by green and clean sources."
This new initiative was also lauded as an important step by the Agency of Transportation. ‘The car industry has made it clear that plug-in hybrid technology and all electric vehicles will become increasingly available in the years ahead. Vermonters are eager to embrace this new technology, and government together with the private sector, need to make sure that the fueling options are available for these new customers,’ said Sue Minter, VTrans Deputy Secretary.
Markowitz said, ‘At the end of the day, we want Americans feeling as comfortable driving electric vehicles as they do driving older, oil-dependent cars and trucks. We want people to know that they can drive new electric cars from New England to DC and everywhere in between.’
10.20.2011