Washington calls for more, not less federal EV investment
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Elected leaders and clean transportation advocates in Washington State are urging Congress to include robust investments in electrified transportation in the upcoming Surface Transportation Bill.
The law, which is reauthorized about every five years, will update policies and funding for federal highway, transit and safety programs before the current law expires in September.
Michael Mann, executive director of the advocacy group Clean and Prosperous-Washington, called on lawmakers to support the state’s electrification efforts at a recent news conference.
"We need Congress to exercise its power of the purse to strengthen the power of our democracy in order to power our transportation system on cleaner and cheaper fuels that don’t lock our economic future into whoever has the keys to the Strait of Hormuz," Mann contended.
Mann said leaders in Washington have put $200 million from the Climate Commitment Act into EV infrastructure, while the Trump administration has cut billions in federal funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and incentives.
Supporters of electrification say the state has already created thousands of well-paying jobs and lowered transportation costs for families.
Dr. Annemarie Dooley, board member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, said clean transportation should be better funded for the sake of the economy and for the health of Washingtonians.
"Many people live in communities that have polluted air next to railroads, roads, ports where clouds of toxic particles from tailpipes from tires, roadside dust go directly into their lungs," Dooley pointed out.
Supporters of electrification in Washington are celebrating Representative Rick Larsen, D-Wash., for his previous backing of clean transportation. Larson is the lead Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
