New Mini Guide Focuses on Coordinated EV Infrastructure Planning and Implementation among State Officials
By Delaney Dixon
Source: NCEP
WASHINGTON (November 30, 2022) — The National Council on Electricity Policy announced the release of a new publication, Mini Guide on Transportation Electrification: State-Level Roles and Collaboration among Public Utility Commissions, State Energy Offices, and Departments of Transportation, the eighth in its series promoting dialogue among state-level electricity decision makers by highlighting examples of successful engagement. Each mini guide features collaborative approaches, lessons learned and interviews with leading state and local decision makers.
The mini guide, prepared by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Center for Partnerships & Innovation, the National Association of State Energy Officials and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, outlines typical state agencies' roles and provides lessons learned from recent successes as State Energy Offices, state departments of transportation and public utility commission officials coordinate EV infrastructure planning and implementation. Increased coordination among these three agencies is a valuable strategy for states that are working to achieve state energy policies, upgrade transportation corridors, identify equitable charging station placement and design rates for vehicle charging across the states.
Included in the guide are condensed excerpts from interviews with State Energy Office, DOT and PUC officials from three states: Florida, Michigan and Utah. A few key themes emerged from the interviews: Identifying the specific roles each agency plays allows for smoother progress as agencies leverage relevant strengths among their partners; formal and informal collaboration is valuable for each agency to meet its mission; and collaboratively engaging public- and private-sector stakeholders increases opportunities for a state to benefit from transportation electrification. By working collaboratively across agencies and with varying stakeholders, states can anticipate and handle the unprecedented opportunities and challenges associated with developing novel infrastructure at the intersection of energy, transportation and the electrical grid.
"This guide will be a great resource for state agencies to use as they collaborate on implementing the transportation electrification programs and various Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act EV-related infrastructure programs," said NASEO Executive Director David Terry.
"The federal government has allocated an immense amount of funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), clearly marking it as a national priority," said AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon. "As state DOTs work to deploy these funds, they will need assistance and technical expertise from their counterparts at sister state agencies, like state energy offices and public utility commissions. This guide offers some helpful examples of how to foster cross-agency collaboration, and can serve as a starting point for those conversations."
"The publication of this mini guide is ideally timed for supporting the many states newly navigating the $7.5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program that is supplemental to existing state and utility transportation electrification programs," said NARUC Executive Director Greg White. "NARUC's board of directors passed a policy resolution on November 15, 2022, that explicitly seeks to encourage state and federal agencies to collaborate with public utility commissions and we see this publication as a useful starting point."
Download and read the mini guide here.
About NCEP
The National Council on Electricity Policy (NCEP) is a platform for all state level electricity decision makers to share and learn from diverse perspectives on the evolving electricity sector. Our community includes over 200 representatives from public utility commissions, air and environmental regulatory agencies, governors' staffs and state energy offices, legislatures, and consumer advocates. We are an affiliate of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Center for Partnerships and Innovation (CPI). www.naruc.org/ncep
NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of state public utility commissions before the three branches of the federal government. www.naruc.org
About NASEO
NASEO is the only national non-profit association for the governor-designated State Energy Directors and the over 3,000 staff of their offices from each of the 56 states and territories. Formed by the states in 1986, NASEO facilitates peer learning among state energy officials, serves as a resource for and about state energy policy, and advocates the interests of the State Energy Offices to Congress and federal agencies. www.naseo.org
About AASHTO
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It represents all transportation modes including air, highways, public transportation, active transportation, rail, and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.
AASHTO works to educate the public and key decision makers about the critical role that transportation plays in securing a good quality of life and sound economy for our nation. AASHTO serves as a liaison between state departments of transportation and the Federal government. AASHTO is an international leader in setting technical standards for all phases of highway system development. Standards are issued for design, construction of highways and bridges, materials, and many other technical areas. www.transportation.org