Jun 11 2008

PG&E Joins Google in DC to Showcase Plug-in Electric Vehicles

Posted by: Keely Wachs

 PG&E's Peter Darbee today joined Google's Dan Reicher, ex-CIA head Jim Woolsey, GM-North America's President Troy Clarke, Better Place's Shai Agassi, the New York Times' Thomas Friedman, Senators Kerry, Alexander, Hatch, and Congressmen Dingell and Inslee during the Brookings Institution's policy event, "Plug-in Electric Vehicles 2008:  What Role for Washington?"

 This venerable group is meeting over the next couple of days to discuss the potential and long-term viability of PHEV's, and to identify federal policies that promote the widespread market adoption of these clean energy automobiles. 

The breadth of this group's interests reflects the breadth of great reasons why PHEV's may play a large role in the future of the transportation industry.  Among factors driving the adoption of these vehicles includes fighting climate change, cleaning the air we breathe, building a new energy economy, and achieving energy independence.   

Remarkable comments so far include Dan Reicher's plea to lawmakers to take action by highlighting a new poll, which shows that 75% of all U.S. voters would support policies that promote plug-in technology.

Another compelling moment was Jim Woolsey's vivid comment that we are paying for both sides of the war on terrorism by purchasing oil.  He asked the audience to look at themselves in the rearview mirror the next time they purchase oil.  He then emphatically concluded his comments by saying, "We can destroy oil's monopoly!"

Darbee added a pragmatic view to the event by highlighting the need for greater investments in the nation's electricity infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing electric vehicle market.  Specifically, he called out other utilities, state regulators, and federal legislators to support smart meter technologies to create a grid that is capable of communicating in real time with vehicles.

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