SCE sought sanction for expanding Electric Transportation

SCE sought application for embarking on four electric transportation projects. In a bid to accomplish California’s 2030 greenhouse gas and air pollution reduction goals, it becomes essential to achieve transportation electrification. California Public Utilities Commission sanctioned the $4 million project eyeing electrification of cars, buses, medium- and heavy- duty trucks, and industrial vehicles and equipment that the company filed with the commission last January. The pilots approved are namely Customer rebate for residential charging station installation, Transit bus electrification, Port electrification projects and Urban DC Fast charger clusters.

SCE President Ron Nichols said “Electrifying transportation represents the largest near-term opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive down pollution that impacts public health.”

The plan is set to cater to Southern California where 40 percent of the goods entering the nation are moved through the region’s ports and over its highways. While crucially important to the state and local economy, the goods movement industry is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from heavy-duty commercial and industrial vehicles at ports, warehouses and along freeway corridors. According to the plan laid down by SCE in its white paper entitled “The Clean Power and Electrification Pathway” which aims at more than 7 million electric vehicles in California and an electric grid that is supplied by 80 percent carbon-free energy.

Katie Sloan, SCE principal manager of Product Development & Division Management, who oversees the pilots stated “And, every fossil-fuel burning vehicle that is removed from California’s roadways contributes to better health for the many Californians who live near our freeways and transportation corridors.”