2022 was a “short session” year in both the Oregon and Washington legislatures which is typically focused on budget rebalancing and administrative tasks rather than on major policy proposals. Despite the short session, Forth wanted to work toward progress in Oregon following the expansion of the income–qualified Charge Ahead rebate last year and the creation of an EV rebate program in Washington. 

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program

Earlier this year, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) projected that the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (OCVRP) would become oversubscribed and exhaust its budget well before the end of the year owing to the increase in EV sales and expected uptick in Charge Ahead rebates.

Forth sprang into action along with other allies to convey the urgency of the situation to legislators. 

Robust advocacy by Forth and our partners resulted in the allocation of an additional $15 million to the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program budget as part of a $100 million Climate Resilience Budget. This should cover the program’s demand through 2023, but it highlights the need for ongoing and increased funding in order to meet the climate goals set for the state.

"Rebates are critical to incentivizing the transition to electric vehicles," notes Forth's Policy Director, Jeanette Shaw. "Now that we have doubled the Charge Ahead rebate available to help lower-income Oregonians purchase EVs, it's more important than ever that the program receive sufficient funding."

Washington EV Rebate and Infrastructure Funding

In January 2022, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced a budget proposal to secure significant funding for the development of EV infrastructure and an ambitious EV rebate program in the state.

Policy managers at Forth, our lobbyists and allies met with legislators, provided guidance for spending priorities, and testified in committee hearings in the 60-day session.

Our joint efforts resulted in a $250 million addition to the final budget in the $17-billion Move Ahead Washington Transportation Package appropriated for zero-emission transportation projects.

The allocation includes:

• $120 million for programs and incentives promoting the purchase of and conversion to alternative fuel vehicles. 
• $69 million to support EV charging infrastructure in rural areas, office buildings, multi-family housing and other areas.
• $25 million toward programs and incentives for overburdened and low-income communities.

We will advocate to ensure that this allocation results in the creation of a robust EV rebate program, including one for income-qualified buyers, much like the Oregon Charge Ahead incentive.

Much work remains to be done in both states. Significant mainstream increases in EV adoption demand significant developments in EV infrastructure and robust incentives. Expansion of the Charge Ahead rebate in Oregon in 2021 and this session’s additional funding for the rebate program will translate into short and long-term benefits for all Oregonians, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. We expect to see similar benefits in Washington as their incentive and infrastructure programs develop in the coming years.  

Forth’s sharpened focus to increase access to electric cars, charging, and emerging e-mobility programs is demonstrated in our recent successes in the Oregon and Washington legislatures and provide us with plenty of opportunities for future work in both states. 

In order to meet the goals set by both states to transition to electric transportation, we will need to ramp up charging infrastructure by orders of magnitude.

To make EVs an affordable option for all of our community members, we will need to greatly expand funding for rebate programs and make sure we’re reaching out to the diverse communities to share those benefits. Forth will be working in the coming months to plot out the legislative approach necessary to accomplish those aims. We look forward to working with our members and partners to develop those plans and keep the legislative momentum going in Oregon and Washington.

The 2022 sessions highlighted the urgent needs associated with equitable access to electric cars and charging. Forth’s policy team is ready to meet the challenge in 2023.