Chelsea Chandler on Building Wisconsin's EV Charging Network

Frederica Freyberg:
The state Senate this week passed two bills designed to jump-start the construction of electric vehicle charging stations across the state by tapping into nearly $80 million in federal funds. The measures now go to the Assembly. A change in law is required to allow gas stations like Kwik Trip or other businesses to charge three cents per kilowatt hour to charge up because current law only allows public utilities to charge for electricity. Environmental groups advocate for more EV charging stations. We get Clean Wisconsin’s take on a potential law change clearing the way with Chelsea Chandler. Thanks very much for being here.

Chelsea Chandler:
Thanks for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:
So what is your reaction to these bills that passed in the Senate and are on their way to the Assembly.

Chelsea Chandler:
These bills are really important for unlocking $78 million in federal funding made possible by the Biden administration’s infrastructure law as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. But there are a couple of requirements in that program that Wisconsin state law is not meeting right now. So what these bills do are they’re going to bring us into alignment with those requirements so we can access those critical funds and bring more electric vehicle charging into the state. Fundamentally, the issue is about how people pay to charge their vehicles in Wisconsin. Right now, Wisconsin is one of only two states in the country that is having people pay by the amount of time that they’re charging their vehicles instead of the amount of energy that they’re using in kilowatt hours. So it’s a little bit funny, really. If you’re charging your gas car at the pump, you wouldn’t pay for the amount of time you’re sitting there. You’d expect to pay for the number of gallons that you’re putting into your vehicle. So this is the same thing. It would kind of make it more fair, so if the pump is a little slower or your electric vehicle is charging a little slower, you’re still paying for the amount of energy that you’re using. And the reason we have it set up that way right now is it’s kind of a work-around because, as you said, right now Wisconsin sees anyone who is providing electricity as being an electric utility and that’s really not the intent here. The intent is just for a company to be able to provide a service to car owners who want to power their vehicles.

Frederica Freyberg:
How sorely are these charging stations needed around Wisconsin?

Chelsea Chandler:
We really need more electric vehicle charging infrastructure. I think that’s the biggest barrier to having more widespread adoption of electric cars in Wisconsin. People need to be able to travel and commute with confidence that they can, you know, repower their vehicle as easily ideally as you can fill it up at a pump and we really need more electric cars in Wisconsin for a few reasons. Really, because there’s benefits to the climate, there’s benefits when it comes to air pollution and displacing some of those emissions out of the tailpipe and then there’s really a lot of economic opportunities to having more electric cars in Wisconsin could unlock. I know coincidentally today, U.S. Energy Secretary Grant Holm and U.S. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su were visiting Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to talk all about electric vehicle charging infrastructure, kind of made-in-America opportunities for Wisconsin, and so basically that is an opportunity Wisconsin companies like Ingeteam based in Milwaukee, they’re expanding their production of EV chargers, so they see that as an opportunity. And then there’s the places that will be hosting the EV charging, places like Kwik Trip who were very active and supportive throughout the process of advancing these bills because they want to be able to offer services to more customers who can come charge their vehicles and then stop and get a cup of coffee or a bite to eat.

Frederica Freyberg:
I was going to ask about that idea that businesses like Kwik Trip are in favor, because you’d think that EV chargers might compete with their gasoline sales.

Chelsea Chandler:
I think they see it as part of the future. It’s a more diverse portfolio so more people are switching to electric cars so might as well be a part of that. Again, they can make money by people coming into the store and getting some food. I know that’s what I do when I’m charging my car. It’s nice to be able — to be somewhere where I can stop, have the kids get a bathroom break, get a bite to eat and then be on my way.

Frederica Freyberg:
Is the goal to have these charging stations every 50 miles, as is federal guidance, and if so, how long would it take for Wisconsin to get there?

Chelsea Chandler:
So there’s been pretty elaborate planning process to comply with this National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Wisconsin has a Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan that was approved in 2022, and so they looked at all of the major corridors making sure that they get that coverage at least every 50 miles so we can make it convenient for people who are traveling across the state and have that confidence that they can recharge. So the bills have passed the Senate this week. The next step is to pass the Assembly and then the governor would sign into law and then the Department of Transportation already has a request for proposals out for people who want to build these charging stations. So that is open until April 1st. So basically, as long as we can get these bills passed and kind of make sure we’re adhering to the federal requirements, we could, as I understand, have money out the door starting in April.

Frederica Freyberg:
All right. Chelsea Chandler, thanks very much.

Chelsea Chandler:
Thank you so much.