U.S. Reps. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) and Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) introduced last week a bill aimed at growing the electric vehicle jobs.
The bill, H.R. 8807, the Electric Vehicle Mobility Area Planning (EV MAP) Act, would create a $10 million grant programs to help local governments and electric utility companies to identify locations for electric vehicle charging stations.
The bill would help communities save money on transportation costs, lower environmental impacts from tailpipe emissions, and gain access to new transportation technology by providing consumers and developers data-driven, publicly accessible information. That information, in turn, would help communities make better planning and investment decisions and help to create new, American electric vehicle manufacturing jobs in the process.
“As our transportation sector evolves—with several automated car manufacturing facilities already contributing to the economy of our growing state—we must ensure that long-overlooked areas and rural districts like Arizona’s First are not left behind,” O’Halleran said. “Our bill ensures that both communities and the private sector can identify priority areas to make the best investments in the EV industry. This growing market is taking action to lower emissions and combat climate change while bolstering our transportation economy and opening up new, good-paying jobs for Arizonans. It’s a win-win-win.”
The legislation has the support of energy and climate non-profit organizations like the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Environmental Defense Fund, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, and the Edison Electric Institute.
“Electric cooperatives are investing in electric vehicle infrastructure to meet the evolving expectations of their consumer-members and communities. One potential challenge to broad rural consumer adoption of EVs is a clear understanding of when and where public charging stations will be needed,” said Jim Matheson, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “This legislation will help alleviate that obstacle to EV deployment and help electric cooperatives make informed investments in charging infrastructure.