A coalition of Garfield County’s municipal governments and other partners approved a plan to manage the long-term transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The Garfield Clean Energy (GCE) board signed off on the countywide EV Readiness and Action Plan at its July 12 meeting.
The plan offers strategies to tackle the challenges and opportunities of an electric vehicle future in the county. It focuses on four key areas: policy support, EV charging infrastructure, equitable EV access, and fleet and transit. The recommendations align with the county’s 2023 Energy Action Plan goal of having 15% of all registered vehicles be electric by 2030.
“While adopting EVs will reduce pollution and greenhouse gasses, it won’t solve every problem,” said Mary Harlan, clean mobility team lead for CLEER.
The EV-readiness plan is the result of a year-long effort by GCE, CLEER, Xcel Energy Partners in Energy, and Holy Cross Energy. The process included input from stakeholders through workshops and virtual meetings.
To implement the plan, collaborators will set priorities and apply for grants to fund projects. Near-term initiatives include workforce development for EV mechanics, EV charging station installations and educational outreach.
“The 15% target comes from our Energy Action Plan, aiming to get 15% of all new registered vehicles electric by 2030,” Harlan said. “We strive for this goal while recognizing that EVs aren’t suitable for everyone.”
Currently, Harlan said only 1.6% of registered vehicles in Garfield County are electric. This is better than Mesa County’s 0.85% but less than Denver’s 2.4%.
“We’re about in the middle compared to other counties in Colorado,” Harlan said. “Sixteen out of every 1,000 registrations are electric here, compared to Denver’s 24 out of 1,000.”
The plan’s importance lies in contributing to state targets for greenhouse gas reduction and fostering clean mobility. Harlan highlighted the potential economic benefits, such as job creation in EV maintenance and infrastructure.
“Reducing vehicle ownership costs over time is another benefit,” Harlan said. “Although EVs have higher upfront costs, maintenance is cheaper compared to gas or diesel vehicles.”
The plan includes partnerships with municipalities, private businesses and charging companies to enhance EV infrastructure.
“We’re already seeing progress with grants awarded for charging stations,” Harlan said. “However, these projects take time to complete, often one to two years.”
Harlan said that GCE is behind the EV action plan. She also noted that the plan does not aim to push EV adoption but to make it accessible where practical.
“Our overarching goal is clean mobility, including public transportation and improved biking and walking infrastructure,” Harlan said. “EVs are just one piece of this larger puzzle. Part of our targets for this plan is looking at how we contribute to the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”