Indiana Alliance publishes EV ‘Green Book’ to encourage equality
The Indiana Alliance for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities Development published the “Indiana Electric Vehicle Charging Neighborhood Green Book” to share their […] The post Indiana Alliance publishes EV ‘Green Book’ to encourage equality appeared first on Indianapolis Recorder.
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The Indiana Alliance for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure and Economic Opportunities Development published the “Indiana Electric Vehicle Charging Neighborhood Green Book” to share their equity guidance and site recommendations for the rollout of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
Through the NEVI program, Indiana has received $100 million in funding for EV charging stations, 40% of which is allocated for disadvantaged and undeserved communities.
“It should be the case that compliance with Justice 40 means Indiana agencies, including the Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Department of Environmental Management, are engaging with these communities and listening to their needs — as well as ensuring policies and appropriations are responsive to those needs and recommendations,” said Denise Abdul-Rahman, Alliance Founder. “This has not happened.”
The Green Book explains that INDOT failed to ensure affected communities have a say in how programs like NEVI are implemented and instead performed the bare-minimum tasks required for the funding.
The Green Book proposes 38 sites for EV charging stations that would effectively serve the disadvantaged communities and suggests contracting with minority-owned businesses rather than large corporations to perform the work needed.
“The administration has been clear from day one that this historic federal funding must benefit underserved communities in each state, including Indiana’s BIPOC communities that have been left out of and harmed by previous transportation infrastructure projects,” said Denise Abdul-Rahman, Alliance founder. “For the last two years, we have modeled what equitable program design looks like, meeting with these communities, listening to their needs and advocating for responsive policies, but state agencies keep insisting their way is working.”
Indiana Alliance pushes for equity in EV infrastructure plan – Indianapolis Recorder
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
The post Indiana Alliance publishes EV ‘Green Book’ to encourage equality appeared first on Indianapolis Recorder.
