In an announcement that could have ripple effects on the city's landscape, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi relayed that the U.S. Department of Transportation will funnel $15 million into the city’s efforts to build a more accessible network of electric vehicle charging stations.
Much of this funding is earmarked for communities on the outskirts of the green vehicle revolution – places where the smokestacks loom larger than the serene blue skies of a California dream.
"This federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – passed by the Democratic Congress in 2021 – is an important investment to increase the accessibility of electric vehicle charging ports across San Francisco," Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said.
She highlighted that this move is especially pertinent for disadvantaged communities, intending to give them a stake in the clean energy economy while creating high-quality jobs.
The San Francisco Environment Department will be at the helm of this initiative, receiving the $15 million to spearhead the installation of up to 300 EV charging ports.
The ports will be located in publicly accessible garages, lots, and curbside spaces and are designed to serve current electric car owners and those in underserved communities.
The project will feature both Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers, which could hike the total number of charging ports in San Francisco by thirty percent.
Tyrone Jue pointed out that electric vehicles now represent over a third of new car sales, heralding a tipping point in our clean transportation revolution. This investment is hoped to lay down the tracks for the city's target of becoming a zero-emission city by 2040 by bringing convenient, affordable charging to neighborhoods across San Francisco.
