Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
Hartford, CT - Today, Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved a landmark electric vehicle charging program, with an emphasis on making charging more accessible to underserved communities, including at workplaces and apartment buildings.
This nine-year program, which will launch on January 1, 2022, aims to achieve the adoption of 500,000 electric vehicles in Connecticut by 2030, consistent with the recommendations of the Governor's Council on Climate Change.
This program will help the state to achieve its climate targets set by the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) to reduce emissions 45 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. The program will also help enable the state to achieve its commitment to deploy between 125,000 - 150,000 EVs by 2025 through the State Zero-Emission Vehicle Programs Memorandum of Understanding (ZEV MOU).
In response, Samantha Dynowski, the Connecticut State Director for the Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
"The Sierra Club applauds PURA for approving this program to shift Connecticut away from polluting vehicles by increasing availability to electric vehicle charging, with an emphasis on addressing existing gaps and expanding access to low- and moderate-income residents. The time is now to electrify vehicles in our state -- from passenger vehicles to commercial trucks -- for climate action, public health, and environmental justice. We encourage PURA to build on the success of this program and take action on medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging.”
Background: Through a nearly two year stakeholder process, which included electric utilities; Connecticut agencies including DEEP and OCC; the CT Green Bank; charging infrastructure companies including Greenlots, Chargepoint, EVgo; and environmental groups such as Sierra Club and Save the Sound; PURA developed a statewide utility EV charging infrastructure deployment program.
The program addresses critical market segments and barriers to deploying EV charging infrastructure by including incentives for charging at multi-unit dwellings and workplaces (including fleet charging), destination charging, direct current fast charging (DCFC), and residential single-family homes. The program will offer increased incentives for charging infrastructure in underserved communities, including environmental justice communities and public housing developments. PURA has also initiated a study to be conducted by Rocky Mountain Institute to examine potential transportation electrification mobility solutions for low and medium-income communities in Connecticut, with a final report and recommendations anticipated later this year.
The program will also include a demand charge alternative, a load management program, and an education and outreach plan to be developed and implemented by the utilities.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.