By Huck Fairman
The second of two parts about electric vehicles.
Sustainable Princeton’s and the Public Library’s Great Ideas talk on electric vehicles offered so much information that even a summary of it required publishing in two parts.
Mike Hornsby was the third of four speakers, speaking largely on what the State of New Jersey is doing to promote cleaner vehicles. Like the first two speakers, he brought a wealth of experience in the energy and environmental fields — 37 years of work and study, following earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering from NJIT. Currently he is the chief technology officer with the state Bureau of Public Utilities. Its Office of State Energy Services is developing and leading the state’s Alternative Fuels Vehicle Program while also developing clean, storm-proof, onsite power systems at critical public facilities.
In addition, he is (and has been for 24 years,) adjunct professor in NJIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
His volunteer positions include: The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association board of trustees; chair (when does he ever sit down?) of the West Windsor Township (where he lives,) Environmental Commission; and a volunteer with the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company. He is trained in electric vehicle first responder operations with GM and by the New York Fire Department.
He also finds time to contribute ideas to the Princeton chapter’s monthly Citizens Climate Lobby meetings which are part of a national and international effort to develop the political will for a livable world.
Mike explained that the New Jersey is supporting the adoption of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) as part of the state’s Energy Master Plan. A number of state agencies are working together toward this end. Alternative Fuel Vehicles include: plug-in electric vehicles, some battery powered, some plug-in hybrids, and also natural gas vehicles.
In order to encourage and facilitate the adoption of AFVs, the state has established a working group to develop the means to: inform and educate consumers; to demonstrate the benefits; to recommend policies and incentives for AFV adoption and infrastructure; and to accelerate AFV usage by state and local governments. The purpose of all of these efforts is to reduce CO2 emissions and other pollutants — and, in time, save money.
To achieve these goals, the working group has recognized that it will support “cost-effective new technologies that advance both the economy and environment, but which have not penetrated the market.”
Mike noted that as these developments have moved forward, “virtually all public comments by individuals, business groups, utilities, and trade associations urge state AFV action.”
Added to these steps are: New Jersey’s Low Emission Vehicle program to reduce emissions, and a sales tax exemption for zero-emission vehicles.
A further means to promote AFVs is the establishment of a website, drivegreenj.gov.
There is also a New Jersey EV WorkPlace Charging Grants Program which provides reimbursement to employers to offset the cost of purchasing and installing EV charging stations, offering up to $5,000 per Level 2 station. (It’s first come, first serve until the money runs out. Apply at drivegreenj.gov before installation.)
To help finance these initiatives, the BPU has filed a grant application with the federal Department of Energy to be used to accelerate the adoption of:
• EVs for government fleets.
• EV chargers for public and government use.
• Evaluation of multi-state (16) EV and charger procurement plans.
• Outreach and education.
And finally, there is a “Charge Ready” program through which utilities can build electric infrastructure for charging stations. The state BPU would use, if the grant comes through, DOE funding for chargers and energy storage (integrated batteries.) A DOE reply is expected in January.
One aspect of the intertwining of efforts that is particularly noteworthy, on top of the environmental benefits, is the working together of public organizations and private companies. While too often nationally there is sharp debate between those espousing public or private enterprise, the efforts that Mike has overseen clearly required harnessing the capabilities of both sectors. In fact, given the complexity of the challenges we face, cooperating and drawing the best from each is essential.
Appropriately then, the evening’s fourth and final speaker, Nic Freschi, brought a multi-disciplinary, and fresh, perspective to the adoption of EVs, their supporting systems, and the ways in which we think about energy as a society.
A recent graduate of The College of New Jersey, he majored in physics and philosophy, and, in his senior year co-invented a solar energy technology that won his team the $30,000 grand prize in the college’s annual Mayo Business Plan Competition.
Before this, his wide-ranging interests led him to learn Mandarin Chinese starting at age 6; as a young man to visit much of China; and then live in Ecuador for a full year after high school, learning Spanish while working on a remote farm and milking cows.
Since graduating in May, Nic has turned his considerable abilities toward the intersection of renewable energy and transportation. This has led him to work on emerging technologies from self-driving vehicle security to solar electric car charging. His vision is that the adoption of solar energy and electric vehicles will cause a shift in the way the public thinks about where we get our electricity.
He notes, “For a hundred years, no one has really cared where their electricity comes from. We flip a switch and it just appears. By putting a solar array on someone’s roof and an electric car in their garage, we are inviting people to participate in the energy industry for the first time in over a century. This participation and the public understanding it will entail, rather than any new technology, will be the single most important factor in building the sustainable world which we all wish to live in.”
Huck Fairman is a Princeton author who writes SOLUTIONS about environmental topics.
