U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation that will work towards constructing electric vehicle charging stations nationwide.
The office will oversee the allocation of approximately $7.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the implementation of a network of “efficient and cost-effective” charging stations while also providing technical assistance to states and local governments to construct these and other infrastructure, a U.S. Department of Energy press release said.
“We are embarking on a transformative path to modernize the way we get to around in this country, making sure all Americans have the option to choose electric vehicles and spend less at the pump while making our air healthier,” Granholm said in the release. “Our two agencies will work together to deliver on President Biden's historic investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, starting today with a joint project to build hundreds of thousands of electric vehicle charging stations, to tackle the climate crisis and create manufacturing and construction jobs at the same time.”
The joint office's goals are to reduce U.S. carbon emissions and push forward President Biden’s mission of electric vehicles comprising half of the country’s vehicle sales by 2030, the release said. The transportation sector currently contributes 29% of all U.S. carbon emissions.
Additionally, the office will aid underserved communities with the construction of vehicle charging systems through the Justice40 Initiative, which “requires delivering at least 40% of the benefits from Federal climate and clean energy investments to underserved communities,” the release said.
Support will involve assisting states in developing detailed frameworks for charging station networks that will guide the $7.5 billion program's implementation, the release said.
