Written By: Zachary Lytle, Fellow, AEG Washington
Transportation poses as a vital and complex sector to be decarbonized as we continue to confront the climate crisis. As of 2019, transportation composed 29% of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions. To kickstart a generative partnership with the federal government, the Advanced Energy Group (AEG)* Washington 20Q4 Task Force has delivered a letter to the Congressional Delegation which outlines the rationale, requirements, and benefits of bus electrification.
In November of 2020, AEG convened a broad group of stakeholders to explore major challenges to achieving the transportation and mobility components of Sustainable D.C. - Washington DC’s carbon and equity goals. After a two-day dialogue, they synthesized the obstacle statements presented by Rachael Healy, Director of the Office of Sustainability for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and Camron Gorguinpour, Director of Mobility Solutions at Engie Impact, concluding, “the lack of a stakeholder coalition to drive regional alignment on zero emission transportation and infrastructure investments priorities'' presented a major obstacle for DC’s carbon and equity goals.
A Task Force, chaired by Severin Skolrud and Zachary Falk, WSP USA, immediately set upon the task of building the coalition and identifying critical transportation investments for the region. In early 2021, the task force refined its scope to address the stakeholder collaboration and explicit infrastructure investment necessary to electrify transit bus fleets in the National Capital Region. With the nation facing a price tag of $56 billion to $89 billion for the implementation of zero-emission bus systems, municipalities will need strong partnerships and federal funding. After identifying the need for federal support, the Task Force focused on building a coalition of public and private institutions to deliver a unified message of support for investments in zero-emissions transit bus infrastructure to the National Capital Region’s Congressional Delegation, and the White House.
After forming the coalition, the Task Force composed a letter to the Congressional Delegation outlining the urgent need for federal support in the electrification of bus systems. The letter clarifies that the costs of electrification go beyond the purchasing of a new fleet of vehicles. Instead, facilities must be refurbished, charging infrastructure needs to be built out, and investments must be made into the electric grid’s resilience and capacity. While the costs may seem high, the Task Force emphasized that these investments will result in long run cost savings, cleaner cities, and the realization of region wide decarbonization objectives. The Task Force concludes the letter by asking the Delegation to ensure that during the appropriation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that electric buses and the requisite public infrastructure receive the needed federal funding and support.
Signatories of the letter include Lucinda Babers, Deputy Mayor Operations & Infrastructure, D.C., Chris Conklin, Director, Montgomery County DOT, Dave Velazquez, President/CEO, Pepco Holdings, Surya Panditi, President/CEO, Enel X North America, David Gadis, GM, DC Water, and Eli Hopson, CEO, DC Green Bank, and Paul Wiedefeld, CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority who provided strong leadership during the composition of the letter. Given the breadth of the for profit, nonprofit, and governmental organizations involved with the Task Force’s letter, it is evident that investing in a zero-emission public transportation future is an issue that transcends partisan and ideological divides. We at AEG hope that the National Capital Region’s Congressional Delegation will collaborate with this diverse coalition to ensure that our Capital Region transforms into an exemplar of sustainable transportation.
As this Task Force reaches the conclusion of their 12 month solution, we at AEG would like to thank everyone for their collaboration and support, namely WSP USA. If you are interested in advocating for a just and sustainable transportation future, we encourage you to contact your congressional representatives about the issues outlined in the letter. Additionally, we and our stakeholders plan on continuing to collaborate on these critical issues. Dave Velazquez, President and CEO of Pepco Holdings emphasized the importance of coalition driven solutions when discussing the success of the Task Force:
“The Advanced Energy Group, of which Pepco is a member, must continue to be a visible, active voice in driving policy and regulatory changes that help the District of Columbia achieve its clean energy and climate goals...At Pepco, we recognize the need to act now and leverage our unique footprint to help ensure new energy services and technologies deliver climate benefits quickly...Partnering with external stakeholders can further broaden programs and opportunities in critical transportation electrification areas.”
- Dave Velazquez, President & CEO, Pepco Holdings
Mr. Velazquez highlights the power of collaboration; through it, we are all able to broaden and accelerate our impact on creating a sustainable future. As we continue to create a clean energy future, we look forward to continuing to strengthen our collaboration with Pepco and other key partners. Additionally, we are always looking to connect with new stakeholders. If you are interested in collaborating with AEG and a future Task Force, please email one of our AEG Washington DC Fellows: Graham Warnock (gwarnock@goadvancedenergy.com) or Zach Lytle (zachary@goadvancedenergy.com)
Read the Letter to Congress Here
*Advanced Energy Group (AEG) is not a lobby firm.