Siting Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment with Equity in Mind

Title: Siting Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment with Equity in Mind
Author: Peter Huether, Senior Research Analyst for Transportation
Sponsoring Organization: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Date of Publication: April 7, 2021

Summary From ACEEE: To reduce pollution from road vehicles, states are setting policies to support transportation electrification (TE) and directing utilities to support electric vehicles with widespread charging infrastructure. States and utility commissions also recognize the need to ensure that historically underserved communities benefit from electrification. To make this happen, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) must be sited in a way that promotes geographic, racial, and economic equity. In this paper, we first analyze the extent to which states and utilities are including equity in their siting. We find that equitable utility investments are not spread evenly throughout the country and that states are incorporating equity differently, if at all. Second, we provide guidance for utilities wanting to ensure that the benefits of TE are shared widely. We offer recommendations— including investment carve-outs and meaningful community engagement—for states, utility commissions, and utilities to ensure the benefits of TE reach underserved communities.