News
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Contact: Seth Becker | sbecker@electrificationcoalition.org | (202) 461-2368
Electrification Coalition Members Testify
Three Business Leaders Emphasize the Importance of Investment in Electrification
WASHINGTON – Leaders from three Electrification Coalition companies testified today before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. Excerpts from their prepared testimony follow:
Frederick W. Smith
Chairman, President and CEO, FedEx Corporation
"[I]f we can spend approximately $15 billion a year for eight years in order to eventually end an addiction that would otherwise cost us upwards of $600 billion a year in perpetuity, does it not make wise budgetary sense to do so?"
"If the government supports this new path, if it helps to build these concentrations of electrification that are so crucial to jumpstarting a new, national transportation system, then that is a game changer. It is a game changer for businesses like mine, for employees, for consumers, for the economy, and for the country. A new future is ours for the taking, but only if we choose it and support it."
Richard Lowenthal
CEO, Coulomb Technologies
"Consumers will not adopt electric drive technology at scale if they are not confident in their ability to refuel. At the same time, there is little incentive for the private sector to install public charging infrastructure if that equipment is expected to sit idle."
"This technology is here today. We have the capability right now to deploy an electrified transportation sector that will dramatically improve our nation’s trade balance, national security, and environment, and reduce consumers cost of transportation. What is required is coordination and support to push past initial regulatory and financial hurdles."
Mary Ann Wright
Vice President and Managing Director, Business Accelerator Project Power Solutions, Johnson Controls
"Investing in a series of large-scale demonstration projects will encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and prove their market readiness ... By concentrating investments in a limited number of communities, we can maximize leverage from the opportunity to demonstrate that grid-enabled vehicles can meet drivers' needs."
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