What’s Next with Electric Vehicles? NJ Spotlight Roundtable

Panelists Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey and Stefanie Brand, director, New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel

There is widespread agreement that New Jersey will not achieve its clean-energy goals unless it moves rapidly toward electrifying its transportation sector, the biggest single source of greenhouse gas emissions.

How the state should go about making that transformation is a matter of considerable debate, however, as stakeholders wrestle with such contentious issues as:

What, if any, new incentives are needed to convince motorists to buy electric vehicles?
What role should utilities play in building out the charging infrastructure?
What type of investments may be required in the electric grid?

These questions were the focus of an NJ Spotlight roundtable in Hamilton Township on Dec. 13.

Virtual keynote:

Patty Monahan, Commissioner, California Energy Commission,

in a specially recorded video statement

Opening remarks:

Mark Warner, Vice President, Gabel Associates

Panelists:

Jim Appleton, President, New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR)

Stefanie Brand, Director, New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel

John Dempsey, Manager of Transmission Development and Strategy,

Public Service Electric and Gas Company

Doug O’Malley, Director, Environment New Jersey