Build GREEN Act: Why This Gets Us Charged Up

It can sometimes be difficult to wade through the flurry of sustainable energy bills being proposed in Congress. Several of them are in various stages of the legislative process at any one time, and many never make it out of committee. However, the recently announced Build GREEN Act seems destined for the President’s desk at some point soon, as it comes during a time when crumbling infrastructure and the need to create jobs has become a priority for the current administration. It also has the backing of five powerful progressives in Congress – Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) along with House Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Andrew Levin (D-MI).

Senate Floor Photo Courtesy of Jacobin Magazine

What is the Build GREEN Act, then? According to Common Dreams, the bill “would invest $500 billion over 10 years in state, local, and tribal projects to galvanize the transition to all electric public transportation – reducing climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions and health-threatening air pollution while expanding clean mass transit and creating up to one million new jobs.”(Read more in that article here: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/19/democrats-unveil-build-green-infrastructure-and-jobs-act.) What’s more, knowledgeable sources say $150 billion of that (fully 30%) would be allocated toward electric rail, vehicles and charging equipment.

Naturally, EVCS is poised to take considerable advantage of this green mobility stimulus as we expand into new states lacking in EV infrastructure or tackle major projects like the revitalization of the West Coast Electric Highway. Approximately 85% of funding would come from the federal DOT’s budget, which would then be distributed to state, local and tribal governments, port authorities and transit agencies to hire or partner with local contractors of their choosing. It seems likely then that companies such as EVCS with a proven track record, widespread reach and similar goals toward nationwide electrification are well positioned to become preferred government contractors that can heavily influence the national discussion on electric transit.

Apparently, every state is guaranteed at least $2 billion in funding, making states with no significant charging programs a fertile field for development – think North Dakota or Mississippi. (See a comprehensive list of state-by-state funding programs here: https://evcs.com/programs.) Such a step will eventually be imperative in creating an interstate network of charging stations that will help facilitate long-distance EV travel capable of competing with ICEs. On the flip side of that coin, any one state can receive as much as $40 billion, with a state like California – where EVCS already has a deep footprint – the most logical choice for excess funding considering its large geographical size, hefty population, and the fact that Californians have already widely embraced the idea of an EV revolution.

Electric Vehicles Charging Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

Two additional provisions also grabbed our attention. The first mandates that funding recipients agree to pay workers on infrastructure projects at least $15 per hour, meaning demand for skilled labor in this field will markedly increase. We have always believed in paying fair, livable, equitable wages to our workers, and this would give us yet another opportunity to back up that commitment. Second, 40% of the funding would be allotted to “vulnerable and disadvantaged” communities, both urban and rural, which is a cornerstone of the EVCS mission: to ensure Americans of all social and economic strata have access to clean, cheap, reliable transportation, whether it be public or private.

The Senators and House Reps sponsoring the bill claim that, if passed, the reduction in carbon emissions would equate to the removal of 4.5 million ICEs from our roads, representing nearly 2% of the 250 million vehicles on US roads today. While that may seem small at first glance, the environmental impact would be substantial (CarTalk says one gallon of gas creates 20 pounds of CO2, with the average car emitting about six tons of CO2 every year). It could also serve as a stepping stone to greater EV adoption across the country as people start witnessing friends, family, coworkers and neighbors going electric!

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Wall Street Journal Piece Brings Up Questions… And We Answer

Stephen Wilmot’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Investors Look for an EV Charge,” debates the merits of investing in EV infrastructure, admitting that while chargers likely make for better investments than cars, the sector still holds many potential pitfalls that should be considered before jumping in. While that may be true, many of the examples backing up this assertion cite the business models of the largest EV installers in the country while failing to consider what less visible but faster-growing companies like EVCS are doing to mitigate such risks. Below are a few quotes from the article and our thoughts on them, including how we’re different.

Commentary on EV Industry Profitability Claims

In a recent Driving.ca article titled “EV-Charging Industry is Doing Everything Except Making Money,” author David R. Baker makes a compelling argument that the EV infrastructure sector is a revenue desert, essentially incapable of generating enough cash flow to sustain profitability due to a lack of interest from motorists. “The dilemma boils down to demand,” he states, before adding that “lots of people still driving gasoline-powered cars won’t consider going electric until they see charging stations widely deployed.”

Installation of the Month (May 2021): LADOT Lot 656

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) notes on its website that ICE vehicles are one of the city’s top contributors to air pollution, accounting for 19% of all greenhouse gas emissions, before proclaiming, “We can do better… We’re investing in public transit, testing new technology, and adopting mobility innovations for a cleaner environment and brighter future.” At first, it might just sound like flowery rhetoric, but we can personally attest to that commitment. Starting in 2019, LADOT partnered with us to install DCFCs at 57 city-owned lots, with almost 30% of those installations now completed. This alliance has been integral in promoting our goal of zero-emission mobility in the City of Angels by facilitating greater access to infrastructure.

Addressing Pain Points in Creating EV Infrastructure

A recent GovTech.com article titled “How Biden Plans to Build 500 EV Charging Stations” discusses the President’s goals for creating a nationwide network of 500,000 such installations by 2030. While it does a smart job laying out many of the pain points we face in facilitating EV adoption, the mention of solutions was far less prevalent, and ones that were mentioned seemed speculative or tenuous. However, over the last three years, EVCS has already taken the lead in addressing many of these challenge areas, allowing us to dominate the installation market across the West Coast.

Spectrum News: SoCal Company Looks to Meet Growing Need for EV Charging Stations

Recently, our CEO and co-founder, Gustavo Occhiuzzo, was featured in a Spectrum News 1 segment titled “Inside the Issues” with Alex Cohen. He was able to not only convey the challenges we face as we work toward a more electric future, but also the strides EVCS has already made in addressing those challenges as well as some of our most significant achievements. Examples include our deal with LADOT to install DC fast chargers at 57 city-owned lots, our doubling of non-Tesla chargers in LA since last year alone, and the fact that EVCS has become one of the largest and fastest growing installers of EV charging stations on the West Coast in less than three years. See the interview clip and accompanying article below to learn more.