Congress urged to act this year on wide-scale deployment of electric vehicles, infrastructure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2010
Contact: Alex Schroeder (303) 623-9278 ext.112; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DENVER -- Western Governors are calling on the U.S. House and Senate leadership to pass multi-pronged legislation that will advance the wide-scale deployment of electric vehicles and related infrastructure.
Govs. C.L. "Butch" Otter (Idaho), Chairman of the Western Governors' Association, and Christine O. Gregoire (Wash.), Vice Chair, are urging on behalf of their colleagues that swift action be taken on pending legislation when Congress returns in November.
"Electric vehicles provide a path forward towards achieving many of our shared goals: creating sustainable high-quality jobs, reducing our dependence on oil, generating less harmful emissions, and improving air quality," the governors said in a letter to House and Senate leaders.
"As you know, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both the House and the Senate seeking to guide the introduction of electric vehicles on to our roads and into our garages. Western Governors encourage a multi-pronged approach that concurrently develops the necessary infrastructure, battery capacity, and vehicle technology."
The governors said it is important that any federal program recognize the need for local flexibility during implementation to ensure citizens' needs are being efficiently and effectively met.
"Of particular near-term importance, we would ask Congress to extend the expiring tax credits on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which in many places is just being installed as electric vehicles are introduced to the market in coming months," they said.
"We need an all-hands-on-deck, multi-pronged approach to tackle the energy challenges we are facing today. We believe that the electrification of the transportation sector is a strong step in the right direction towards the fundamental shift needed to reduce our dependence on petroleum."
Earlier this year, the governors sent a Letter to Congress about the need to adopt pending legislation aimed at incentivizing the use and development of natural gas vehicles and infrastructure.