With new leadership and recently elected officials being sworn in at the federal, state and local levels, come new opportunities. However, as innovative policies and approaches are discussed, it is important to simultaneously build upon successful, impactful and popular programs that are already in place or underway.
While each of us likely have different opinions on the federally enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, we should be able to agree that financial support coming to Arizona versus going to another state to forward clean transportation and clean energy has been beneficial to our citizens, businesses and economy, and should remain intact.
Under the Clean School Bus Program, nearly 200 electric school buses have been committed for school districts in our state, including in Chandler, Laveen, Casa Grande, Clarkdale-Jerome, and the Somerton and Yuma areas. Despite the purchase price being higher than diesel buses, electric buses save tens of thousands of dollars for school districts — and therefore, taxpayers — over their lifetime due to lower maintenance and operating costs. Additionally, electric buses are better for air quality and public health, which in turn helps to mitigate against federal sanctions for failing to meet air quality standards and reduces contributing factors to asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses.
Cost-savings, air quality and public health benefits also exist for electric over gas-powered fleet and individual vehicles. And as more Arizona drivers purchase an electric vehicle, the aforementioned benefits coupled with employment opportunities to build and maintain infrastructure are expected to yield favorable economic gains in municipalities across our state.
Due to financial support granted from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program, San Carlos Apache Tribal Council, Cochise County, Maricopa County and the city of Mesa are already on their way.
As important as it is to have sufficient charging capabilities in local communities, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program seeks to ensure the ability to charge along alternative fuel corridors. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s work in this area has been commendable with recent charging networks in the works for areas across our state including Quartzsite to San Luis, Bisbee to Douglas, and connections to Wickenburg, Show Low, Bullhead City and Four Corners.
Arizona and Arizonans have and should continue to be able to benefit from clean transportation and clean energy policies led by federal, state and local leaders from both sides of the political aisle. Energy providers across the state estimate that they will need to double their energy production in the not-so-distant future. In order for clean, renewable energy to be an expanding and significant portion of that portfolio, political leaders will need to continue to work in concert with the utilities, private sector, and advocacy organizations.
We look forward to continuing to participate in the advancement of common-sense clean transportation and clean energy programs in common-sense ways.
Editor’s note: Kevin Hartke is the mayor of Chandler, chair of the Regional Council of the Maricopa Association of Governments and president of the Executive Committee for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. Diane E. Brown is executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and co-author of Electric Fleets for Arizona and Electric Vehicles Save Money for Government Fleets. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.