Contact: Noah Barnes, Electrification Coalition
nbarnes@electrificationcoalition.org, (202) 461-2371
CARSON CITY, NEV.—The Electrification Coalition (EC) commends the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) for publishing the Nevada State Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan. This comprehensive plan is the state’s guide on how it will administrate the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funds created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, deploy a statewide electric vehicle (EV) charging network, and build EV charging infrastructure along its alternative fuel corridors to accelerate Nevada’s electric mobility future.
Nevada is scheduled to receive $5.6 million in the first year of the NEVI program and receive more than $38 million over the next five years. The EC commends Nevada for creating a robust state plan, which represents a significant investment in the future of electric transportation. In doing so, Nevada will boost its economy and ensure that EV drivers can travel across the state with ease and confidence. The investment will also bring new EV charging stations to rural and disadvantaged communities across the state.
“Nevada is taking a critical step toward ensuring that all of its communities have greater access to EV charging infrastructure,” said Ben Prochazka, executive director of the EC. “We have long supported policies and programs in Nevada to advance EV adoption. We are excited to see the Silver State continue its dedication to transportation electrification, which will reduce our dependence on oil and the associated national and economic security risks.”
“To maximize this historic investment, we urge Nevada’s leaders to prioritize bold policies that will take advantage of Nevada’s manufacturing potential to be a critical part of the domestic electric vehicle supply chain,” said Prochazka. “A strong Nevada economy depends on state leaders passing additional policies to facilitate the widespread and rapid adoption of EVs so that Nevada communities can access the benefits of transportation electrification.”
To be a regional and national transportation electrification leader, the EC urges Nevada to take the following policy actions:
- Demonstrate proactive leadership: Nevada should prioritize key manufacturing incentives and policies that build out the EV supply chain manufacturing within the state, to leverage the state’s legacy of proactive leadership to ensure it does not fall behind other states.
- Investing in disadvantaged communities (DACs) is crucial for equitable transportation: Nevada must keep transportation equity as a critical factor in funding and infrastructure planning. NDOT and other state agencies need to maintain an open dialogue with electric transportation advocates, civil rights groups, and rural, tribal, and historically underserved populations to further advance the goals of equity outlined in the state’s NEVI plan.
- Prepare for medium- and heavy-duty electrification: Current funding opportunities present a unique opportunity to plan for transportation needs beyond light-duty vehicles. Nevada must take additional actions to achieve the goals of the NESCAUM medium- and heavy-duty Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed in March 2022. These actions would continue to help Nevada set and meet electrification goals across all vehicle types.
- Increase consumer access to EVs: Ensure EV availability in the state by adopting key policies that will expand the freedom of consumers to buy the EV of their choice.
- Electrify the state fleet: Nevada should lead by example by transitioning the fleet to zero-emission vehicles, setting precedent for other public and private fleets in the state, while also supporting the state’s electrification goals through policy.
- Consider a clean fuel standard: Identified as a potential strategy in Nevada’s Climate Initiative in 2020, policymakers should investigate the feasibility and benefits of a clean fuel standard, which would decrease the use of oil in Nevada and increase the use of domestically produced energy to move the state’s transportation.
Fostering these investments in the future of electric transportation will benefit Nevada’s economy and signal to the global automotive industry Nevada’s growing commitment to and leadership in transportation electrification.
With over a decade of experience developing and deploying cutting-edge tools and resources to support the mass adoption of electric vehicles, the EC is a trusted partner supporting states, local governments, and communities across the country with the policies and projects to drive our electric transportation future. The EC is ready to build on its work in Nevada to support the efficient, effective, and equitable deployment of charging infrastructure through the NEVI state plan.
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About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances policies and actions to facilitate the widespread deployment of electric vehicles to overcome the economic, public health, and national security challenges that stem from America’s dependence on oil. For more information, visit electrificationcoalition.org.