41st Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

RESOLUTION 41-4 – RESOLUTION CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION

WHEREAS, the governors and premiers reiterated their commitment to achieve the regional 2020 and 2050 targets for regional greenhouse gas reduction at the 39th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) and unanimously adopted a regional greenhouse gas reduction marker of 35 to 45% below the 1990 levels by 2030;

WHEREAS, the transportation sector is a major consumer of fossil fuels and the region’s dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions;

WHEREAS, the transportation sector is essential to economic development as it supports the mobility of people and goods within the New England and Eastern Canadian region;

WHEREAS, the states and provinces agreed to explore opportunities to advance the clean energy economy through investments in clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation;

WHEREAS, in the recent years, several initiatives have been developed, and collaborations between the private sector and governments have increased demonstrating the value of electric vehicles to our environment and our economy, including the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector;

WHEREAS, the governors and premiers continue to work collaboratively toward the objectives of Resolution 37-3 of achieving a 5% market penetration rate of alternative fuel vehicles by 2020 and to facilitate the availability of alternative fuel and electric vehicle charging stations to support those vehicles;

WHEREAS, the emergence of alternative fuel, electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure stimulates innovation and favours economic prosperity;

WHEREAS, the vast majority of tourist movements in the region are made by car and the creation of electric charging corridors will support tourism opportunities for the participating states and provinces;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT governors and premiers acknowledge the importance of cross-border collaboration and coordination in identifying electric vehicle travel corridors and in supporting the development of an interoperable electric vehicle charging network along those corridors that will enable travel throughout the region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT governors and premiers collaboratively take the required steps to establish a regional network of electric charging corridors to reach a 2020 horizon; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Transportation and Air Quality Committee (TAQC) will evaluate the challenges associated with the establishment of electric charging stations on highway corridors, including both technical requirements and the needs of EV drivers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT TAQC will study matters relating to interoperability of the charging infrastructure and assess the advantages and disadvantages of the existing charging infrastructure business models; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT TAQC will present a report summarizing progress in the development of a regional electric vehicle charging network, including recommendations to reach the 2020 horizon at the 2019 Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

Adopted at the 41st Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, August 28, 2017.