West Coast Power Providers Explore EV Charging for Zero-Emission Shipping Along I-5, Connecting Routes

Utilities, municipalities say creating infrastructure for electric trucks along the corridor will improve air quality, health in the communities they serve

Apr. 18, 2019

ROSEMEAD, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — In California, the transportation sector accounts for nearly 80% of the state’s air pollution and more than 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Washington and Oregon face similar environmental challenges, transportation being the largest contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in those states as well.

Today, electricity providers in the three West Coast states announced that they are working on a solution to significantly curb those harmful emissions.

Nine electric utilities and two agencies representing more than two dozen municipal utilities are sponsoring the West Coast Clean Transit Corridor Initiative, a study to determine how best to ensure that Interstate 5 — a lifeline of goods transportation that extends more than 1,300 miles from the Canadian to the Mexican border — is equipped with sufficient charging to support electric long-haul trucks.