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Polis Promotes Electric Cars In First Executive Order

Gov. Jared Polis starts charging an electric vehicle in downtown Denver on Thursday morning. Polis signed an executive order that aims to bring more electric cars to the state.
Scott Franz
/
Capitol Coverage
Gov. Jared Polis starts charging an electric vehicle in downtown Denver on Thursday morning. Polis signed an executive order that aims to bring more electric cars to the state.

Cheers from environmental groups drowned out nearby construction noise in downtown Denver Thursday morning after Gov. Jared Polis announced an executive order that aims to bring more electric vehicles to Colorado.

After arriving in a blue electric car, Polis said at the press conference he is creating a working group to lead the effort to reduce vehicle emissions. He also said the state will spend some of the $70 million it got from the Volkswagen emission cheating scandal on electric charging stations.

"Electrifying vehicles today leads to cleaner air today as well as saving consumers money," Polis said.

He cited a 2017 study that estimated the switch to zero-emission vehicles would save drivers billions of dollars on fuel and maintenance costs.

Polis was joined by state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and his new transportation director, Shoshana Lew, as he outlined the plans.

The move was applauded by environmental groups who view it as an important step toward combating the effects of climate change.

Gov. Jared Polis speaks to reporters before signing an executive order promoting electric vehicles.
Credit Scott Franz
/
Capitol Coverage
Gov. Jared Polis speaks to reporters before signing an executive order promoting electric vehicles.

Kelly Nordini, executive director of Conservation Colorado, predicts the governor's actions will entice electric car manufacturers to offer more models in the state.

"States that have adopted this zero-vehicle emission standard … the auto dealers follow that leadership," she said. "Putting this in place says to auto dealers 'we're serious about electric vehicles. Come to Colorado. Offer consumers a lot of choices.' And that's how you grow the market and really clean up the air."

Polis campaigned on a goal of getting the state's electric grid to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.

As he outlined his plans for promoting electric vehicles, the governor appeared to acknowledge his zero-emission program might concern some Colorado residents. He sought to reassure farmers and ranchers the order would not affect their choice of vehicles.

"Change presents opportunities and challenges," Polis said. "Nothing in this executive order adds any restrictions on tractors or specialized farm equipment that are important for the competitiveness of our agriculture community."

Some Republican state lawmakers were critical of the executive order. In a statement, Sen. John Cooke, of Greeley, and Sen. Ray Scott, of Grand Junction, said it would lead to increased costs for car buyers.

"While the Governor is correct in showing growth in the purchase of electric vehicles, what he forgets is that those in the lower and middle class of Colorado are undeniably sticking with gas-powered automobiles due to their overwhelmingly lower costs and reliability," the senators wrote.

Capitol Coverage is a collaborative public policy reporting project, providing news and analysis to communities across Colorado for more than a decade. Eleven public radio stations participate in Capitol Coverage from throughout Colorado.

Copyright 2019 KUNC

Scott Franz is a government watchdog reporter and photographer from Steamboat Springs. He spent the last seven years covering politics and government for the Steamboat Pilot & Today, a daily newspaper in northwest Colorado. His reporting in Steamboat stopped a police station from being built in a city park, saved a historic barn from being destroyed and helped a small town pastor quickly find a kidney donor. His favorite workday in Steamboat was Tuesday, when he could spend many of his mornings skiing untracked powder and his evenings covering city council meetings. Scott received his journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is an outdoorsman who spends at least 20 nights a year in a tent. He spoke his first word, 'outside', as a toddler in Edmonds, Washington. Scott visits the Great Sand Dunes, his favorite Colorado backpacking destination, twice a year. Scott's reporting is part of Capitol Coverage, a collaborative public policy reporting project, providing news and analysis to communities across Colorado for more than a decade. Fifteen public radio stations participate in Capitol Coverage from throughout Colorado.