Pennsylvania should be a world leader on both electric and natural gas vehicles. But instead the world is getting a jump on us in breaking the addiction to oil.
The San Francisco Bay area understands the value of being on the cutting edge of technology development and adoption. It is now determined to be the world leader in electric vehicle deployment and so is moving forward with public-private partnerships to install 300 public electric vehicle charging stations. A CEO level "EV Strategic Council" is leading the roll out of EV infrastructure and has a goal of 100,000 electric vehicles on the road in the region by 2015. See www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23146.
A total of 12 counties in Northern California are also writing EV strategic plans to map out fueling infrastructure and resolve other issues needed to make the regional area an EV world leader.
These communities with much less comparative advantages to break the addiction to oil are leaving Pennsylvania behind. For what are we waiting?
"We" are waiting for this: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2011/11/18/climate-change-policies-ok-so-long-as-its-tax-free-poll-says/
ReplyDeleteThis survey by the Economist shows that a vast majority of the U.S. public does not want to pay any premium for green energy or climate change mitigation efforts. Whether or not you agree with this position, it remains a very strong public position.
John,is there a one stop resource on the web to find public charging stations for electric vehicles? I just bought a Chevy Volt and I'm planning to travel from Pittsburgh to eastern Pa and then on to NY. If there are charging stations along the way I would like to stop there and put them to use. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia is amazing. They are finding so many ways to get off oil. Hopefully Pa will catch up some day.
Fred,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the volt. How do you like it? I am afraid to my knowledge PA does not produce Internet or other mapping of EV or CNG charging stations. Not even that.
Carbon Black,
ReplyDeletePerhaps so. While EV and CNG have carbon and other big environmental and health benefits, for me, both EV and CNG are most about the economic and national security risks of oil. The US economy is badly damaged when oil is around $120. We also have now fought 3 wars, counting Libya, in 20 years where oil is dominant. EV and CNG are bargains for taxpayers. They both also would use more of the huge domestic gas supply that we have. Crazy for PA to not be a world leader.
John, what's your analysis of why PA is lagging behind on this? We have the potential for wind, solar, and gas. We're clearly digging deep into gas, but it doesn't seem like the PA legislature is interested in doing it in a way that would lead to a more diverse and renewable energy portfolio.
ReplyDeleteI read your blog about wind, Krugman's piece (and others) about solar, and then we see what seems to be very short-sided legislation on gas about to be signed by the Governor. What gives? Is it really a matter of our politicians being bought off as we might believe from folks like Common Cause and Marcellus Money.org?
What do you think we should be asking for from our electeds?
PA should commit to a public CNG and EV fueling station within 5 miles of every resident within 10 years. That would require about 5,000 of each or about 500 per year. Private capital can be leveraged with modest public incentives.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I love my new Chevy Volt. I've driven it 500 miles and only used 3.5 gallons of gas. Most of that gas was used on Penn Future's tour of solar power in Pittsburgh (oops!) I hope anyone in Pa considering buying a Volt is aware that the state of Pa is offering a $3500.00 rebate for the first 500 Alternative Fuel Vehicles sold in this state.
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