Although the electric car was introduced over 100 years ago, only a fraction of cars sold to U.S. customers today are considered electric vehicles (EVs). Due to the environmental benefits of EVs, there has historically been some efforts to incentivize EV development. Now, Massachusetts's proportion of EVs may begin to climb due to a proposal set forth by Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey.

The proposal, presented on February 15th, calls for a comprehensive statewide plan to increase the prevalence of EVs, as well as to meet general electric power needs with a higher proportion of clean energy. At the hearing before the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), AG Maura Healey stated the plan would use the $75 million in environmental mitigation funds that had been secured through part of a settlement with Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi.

Massachusetts currently has a goal of 300,000 zero-emissions vehicles on the road by 2025, but the proposal suggests exceeding that target. As a part of that goal, suggested inaititves could create better incentives for building necessary public charging stations, making EVs accessible to families of all incomes, and developing policies like time-of-use plans that can help the industry grow. In addition, the proposal suggests all public buses bought by the state are to be electric by 2030.

(Source: www.vox.com)

The proposal hopes to provide incentives for public charging stations

Beyond electric vehicles, clean power goals under the proposal include modernizing the states renewable portfolio standard (RPS), and to create a credible plan to meet most U.S. electric power needs with renewable energy by 2050 “at least at 50% by 2030. With history as a leader of clean energy and sustainability initiatives, it is hopeful that Massachusetts will begin to support these proposed policies.

Image sourced from itwatchit