The state Senate this week passed two bills designed to jumpstart the construction of electric
vehicle charging stations across the state by tapping into nearly 80 million dollars in federal
funds. The measures now go to the assembly. A change in law is required to allow gas stations
like quick trip or other businesses to charge 3 cents per kilowatt hour to charge up because current
law only allows public utilities to charge for electricity. Environmental groups advocate for
more EV charging stations. We get clean Wisconsin's take on a potential law change clearing the way
with Chelsea Chandler. Thanks very much for being here. Thanks for having me. So what is your reaction
to these bills that passed in the Senate and are on their way to the assembly? These bills are
really important for unlocking 78 million dollars in federal funding made possible by the Biden
administration's infrastructure law. It's part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Program but there are a couple of requirements in that program that Wisconsin state law is not
meeting right now. So what these bills do are they are going to bring us into alignment with
those requirements so we can access those critical funds and bring more electric vehicle charging
into the state. Fundamentally the issue is about how people pay to charge their vehicles in Wisconsin.
Right now Wisconsin is one of only two states in the country that is having people pay by the
amount of time that they're charging their vehicles instead of the amount of energy that they're using
in kilowatt hours. So it's a little bit funny really you know if you're charging your gas car at the
pump you wouldn't pay for the amount of time you're sitting there you would expect to pay the number
of gallons that you're putting into your vehicle. So this is the same thing it would kind of make
it more fair so if the pump is a little slower or your electric vehicle is charging a little slower
you're still paying for the amount of energy that you're using and the reason we have it set up
that way right now is it's kind of a workaround because as you said right now Wisconsin sees anyone
who's providing electricity as being an electric utility and that's really not the intent here.
The intent is just for a company to be able to provide a service to car owners who want to power
their vehicles. How sorely are these charging stations needed around Wisconsin? We really need
more electric vehicle charging infrastructure. I think that's the biggest barrier to having more
widespread adoption of electric cars in Wisconsin. People need to be able to travel and commute with
confidence that they can you know repower their vehicle as easily ideally as you could fill it up
at a pump and we really need more electric cars in Wisconsin for a few reasons really because
there's benefits to the climate there's benefits when it comes to air pollution and displacing some
of those emissions out of the tailpipe and then there's really a lot of economic opportunities
too that having more electric cars in Wisconsin could unlock. I know coincidentally today
U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm and U.S. Acting Labor Secretary Sue were visiting
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to talk all about electric vehicle charging infrastructure kind of made
in America opportunities for Wisconsin and so they see that as an opportunity Wisconsin companies
like Enga Team that's based in Milwaukee they're expanding their production of EV chargers so they
see that as an opportunity and then there's the places that'll be hosting the EV charging places
like Quick Trip who you know were very active and supportive throughout the process of advancing
these bills because they want to be able to offer services to you know more customers who can come
charge their vehicles and then you know stop and get a cup of coffee or buy to eat. Yeah well I was
going to ask about that idea that businesses like Quick Trip are in favor because you'd think that
EV chargers might compete with their gasoline sales. I think they see it as part of the future you
know it's a more diverse portfolio so more people are switching to electric cars so might as well be
part of that and again you know they can make money by people coming into the store and getting
getting some food and I know that's what I do when I'm charging my car is it's nice to be able to
be some more work and stop you know have the kids get a bathroom break get a bite to eat and then
be on my way. Is the goal to have these charging stations every 50 miles as is federal guidance and
if so how long would it take for Wisconsin to get there? Yeah so there's been a pretty elaborate
planning process to comply with this national electric vehicle infrastructure program. Wisconsin
has a Wisconsin electric vehicle infrastructure plan that was approved in 2022 and so they looked
at all the major corridors making sure that they get that coverage at least every 50 miles so we
can make a convenient for people who are you know traveling across the state and have that
confidence that they can recharge. So the bill has passed the senate this week the next step is to
pass the assembly and then you know the government would sign into law and then the department
transportation already has a request for proposals out for people who want to build these charging
stations so that is open until April 1st. So basically as long as we can get these bills passed
and kind of make sure we're adhering to the federal requirements we could as I understand
have money out the door starting in April. All right Chelsea Chandler thanks very much. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for having me and for covering this show. Yeah thank you. Yeah oh my. All right
thanks yeah when you unhook. Oh yes I always forget I have these hard to do that and then watch
your stuff on this riser. I've never once had somebody tumble off it but it just seems like
you're better safe than sorry. All right well thank you for being here.