Chuck Schumer Proposes Big Investment in Electric Vehicles

The Senate Majority Leader's plan would pump more than $50 billion into direct incentives for consumers, manufacturers, and property owners.

2 minute read

March 24, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Electric Car Charging Stencil

Paul Krueger / Flickr

As part of the push to shift American energy consumption to more sustainable sources, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to revive "his ambitious proposal to get every American to swap their gas-guzzling car for an electric one," reports Andrew J. Hawkins in The Verge.

First proposed in 2019, the plan would create a "cash-for-clunkers"-type program to give consumers "a 'substantial' point-of-sale discount" when trading in a gas-powered car for an electric one. "A spokesperson later confirmed they are eyeing rebates that are 'more generous' than the current $7,500 federal EV tax credit." The proposal also calls for "direct incentives to auto manufacturers to phase out their production of internal combustion engine vehicles and tax breaks for property owners to install EV chargers at their homes or apartment buildings," as well as $45 billion in grants and subsidies to local governments to improve the nation's network of EV charging stations. But with only 17% of the country's electrical grid drawing from renewable sources, "electric vehicles are only as green as their power source."

Some transit advocates criticize the plan, saying they "would rather see that sum of money spent on strengthening the nation’s public transportation infrastructure, especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a huge drop-off in ridership." Schumer has responded that he is "working on a 'large investment in clean mass transit' right now, which he also hopes to include as part of the Democratic infrastructure proposal." 

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 in The Verge

Red on white 'Room for Rent, Inquire Inside' sign

In Most U.S. Cities, Archaic Laws Limit Roommate Living

Critics argue laws preventing unrelated adults from living in the same home fail to understand the modern American household.

May 24, 2023 - The Atlantic

Vancouver Chuck Wolfe

Ten Signs of a Resurgent Downtown

In GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe continues his exploration of a holistic and practical approach to post-pandemic urban center recovery, anchored in local context and community-driven initiatives that promote livability, safety, and sustainability.

May 24, 2023 - GeekWire

New York MTA subway station

Off-Peak is the New On-Peak

Public transit systems in major U.S. cities are starting to focus on non-rush hour travelers as pre-pandemic commuting patterns shift and transportation needs change.

May 19, 2023 - Curbed

View of cars stuck in gridlocked traffic with traffic lights in background

Research Indicates the Large Potential Benefits of Parking Cash-Out Laws

‘Free’ employee increases driving. Parking cash-out laws reward commuters who use climate-friendly modes, which increases fairness and reduces traffic problems.

1 hour ago - An Assessment of the Expected Impacts of City-Level Parking Cash-Out and Commuter Benefits Ordinances

Close-up photo of Megan Kimble against blurry green background with title "A journalist's take on planning"

Through the Eyes of a Journalist: Megan Kimble Reflects on Covering Food Systems, Zoning Changes, and Highway Projects in the Southwest

Kimble’s interest in topics related to urban planning spawned from research and writing about food systems in the borderlands of Arizona. She then moved to Austin in the midst of the city’s update of its Land Development Code.

3 hours ago - The Planning Commission Podcast

Nighttime view of Tacoma, Washington skyline

Tacoma Coalition Calls for ‘Tenants’ Bill of Rights’

The group wants to put more power in the hands of tenants, but the city has its own, competing proposal for addressing the housing crisis.

May 26 - The Urbanist

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.