The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) an Electric Vehicle Readiness Grant of $1 million to promote the use of electric vehicles in the Northeast.
NYSERDA received the award in partnership with the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a consortium of the transportation, energy, and environment agencies of 11 Northeast states and the District of Columbia. It was created to develop projects that will reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the region.
NYSERDA and TCI will partner with 16 Clean Cities Coalitions (DOE-chartered local organizations that promote alternative fuel vehicles) around the Northeast to educate vehicle owners and build support for an electric vehicle plan at the local level. Other partners include the Georgetown Climate Center and the National Association of State Energy Officials.
“Transportation across the Northeast transcends state borders. By standardizing the process for deploying electric vehicles and charging stations, we’re helping to create a market that is attractive to both manufacturers and customers,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “On behalf of this unique regional collaboration, NYSERDA thanks the DOE for selecting this project, which will help decrease the use of petroleum and the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants in New York and the Northeast.”
The project will encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs) through a variety of means: identifying obstacles to deployment, developing guidelines to locate charging stations, and creating permitting and zoning language that can be adopted by local governments to make installation of charging stations easier. Work will also include training key stakeholders and promoting public awareness of the benefits of EVs.
The Transportation and Climate Initiative was formed in June 2010 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize fossil fuel use in transportation, promote sustainable growth and help build the clean-energy economy.
NYSERDA has been a leader in electric vehicle research, development, and deployment for more than a decade. NYSERDA has funded the development of hybrid and electric light duty and heavy duty vehicles, as well as the deployment of EVs for government and private use, and is currently working with local partners to install close to 100 EV charging stations around the state.
NYSERDA’s award was one of 16 projects announced by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, supporting activities in 24 states and the District of Columbia to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in communities across the nation. In total, $8.5 million was awarded.
"By developing the next generation of automotive engineers and preparing communities for plug-in electric vehicles, these projects will help reduce our nation's dependence on oil imports, create jobs, and help America capture the growing global market for advanced vehicles," said Secretary Chu.
