CEPM to Present “Plugging In: EVs and the Charging Network” Webinar

The Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management will host a free Nov. 16 webinar discussing the basics of electric vehicles, state and federal incentives to increase their use, and federal funding available to accelerate the construction of a national network of charging stations along major highways. “Plugging In: EVs and the Charging Network” will be the subject of an hour-long webinar at 11 a.m. Nov. 16. Natasha Fackler, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, and Colton Brown, Energy Program Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will be the presenters. The program is sponsored by PNC. EVs have the potential to transform Pennsylvania’s transportation system and provide significant benefits for the environment, economy, and society and their use has been steadily increasing. However, the public and local government officials often do not understand the different types of vehicles and chargers and are not aware of government incentives that are available to help with their purchases. In addition, the rapid buildout of a reliable charging network is needed to alleviate concerns about vehicle range. The federal bipartisan infrastructure law will provide $171.5 million through 2026 to help Pennsylvania initially add charging stations every 50 miles on “alternative fuel corridors” along major highways. The program, administered by PennDOT through its National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, may use funds to build EV charging equipment on any public road or accessible location once the AFCs are fully built out. Natasha Fackler has taken on a newly created role as PennDOT Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator to advise the Governor’s Office and PennDOT, and develop best practices on the use and receipt of the bipartisan infrastructure law program funds. She is also designated as the state’s lead point of contact on the NEVI formula program to guide investments in electrification across the Commonwealth. Colton Brown is an Energy Program Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. His primary responsibilities include managing electric vehicle charging station funding programs, educating stakeholders about electric vehicles, and leading other electric vehicle initiatives. He will soon become the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Coordinator for PennDOT, helping develop and implement the NEVI formula grant program. To register for this free webinar, please visit wjenergy.org or click here. The seminar is approved for Continuing Legal Education in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Contact the Washington County Bar Association at wcba@washcobar.org for information.