The Utah Department of Transportation said the state’s Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Steering Committee took its first steps toward an electric future last week.
According to the UDOT, the committee met for the first time on June 1, after the Utah State Legislature passed a bill creating the committee. The committee will guide the state infrastructure toward a sustainable and economical electric future, the agency said.
“We’re at a tipping point for electrification of transportation,” said UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras, the committee’s chairman. “Our mission here is to help Utahns live healthier lives by improving air quality while strengthening the economy.”
The legislature also approved $2.1 million in funding for Utah State University’s Center for Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE). Created in 2020, the ASPIRE Engineering Research Center’s goal is to accelerate the creation of electrified corridors for the nation’s infrastructure. The center is also funded through a $25 million National Science Foundation grant that is renewable to $50 million over 10 years.
“We need tomorrow’s technologies to do this thing right,” Dr. Regan Zane, director of ASPIRE, said. “Now is the time to inject innovation into developing the future vision of our communities and transportation systems. This will inform critical decisions today on infrastructure investments to accelerate our path to clean air and a reduced cost to move people and goods.”
The steering committee includes representatives from the state’s transportation, transit, environmental quality, energy and economic development departments, as well as representatives from industry and utilities.
“The question we face now is how we transition to that electrified future,” Braceras said. “It’s a complicated process that requires careful planning and a coordinated approach across agencies, industries and communities to build a sustainable solution.”