September 21, 2009

Markell Signs Law Promoting Electric Vehicles

AutoPort unveils first retro-fitted electric vehicle

WILMINGTON – Gov. Jack Markell signed legislation into law Monday that puts Delaware in position to be a leader in the vehicle-to-grid electric vehicle industry. Senate Bill 153, the final piece of the Governor’s Energy Agenda this year, creates incentives for Delawareans who take advantage of emerging vehicle-to-grid technology.

“Delaware must have a public policy that places sustainability at the forefront of our economic development efforts. This focus will create jobs and opportunity for Delaware residents and companies,” Markell said during a signing ceremony at AutoPort in Wilmington.  
Specifically, SB 153 ensures that owners of electric cars receive energy credits for power their vehicles return to the electricity grid, much the way homeowners with solar panels or wind turbines already do.
 
After the signing ceremony, the first traditional, fuel-powered vehicle converted at AutoPort into an electric vehicle rolled off the assembly line and was delivered to Pepco. In February, Markell visited AutoPort to award a workforce training grant that allowed the Fortune 500 company to send employees to California to learn how to convert gas-powered cars into battery-powered electric vehicles.
 
Markell proposed this year, and the legislature passed, a series of energy-reform bills this year that will promote energy efficiency and put Delaware on the leading edge of the Green Economy. The measures set mandatory consumption reduction targets of 15% by 2015, adopt aggressive new building codes, establish a loading order in which energy efficiency and renewables must be exhausted before any new fossil fuel generation, and require decoupling of utility rates.

“My administration is committed to keeping Delaware on the leading edge of the Green Economy because creating jobs and combating climate change are essential for Delaware to have a brighter future.” Markell said.