Florida Senate - 2021 SM By Senator Brandes 24-01303-21 20211332__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Memorial A memorial to the Congress of the United States, 2 urging Congress to authorize installation of electric vehicle charging stations in rest areas on the interstate highway system and to allow charging station providers to charge a fee for public use of charging stations installed in such rest areas. 7

WHEREAS, the transportation sector accounts for approximately percent of the total energy needs of the United States and percent of United States petroleum consumption, 11 but the United States imported only about percent of the petroleum consumed in 2019, and

WHEREAS, increasing the use of more energy-efficient vehicles, such as electric vehicles, continues a trend toward minimizing petroleum imports, supports the United States economy, and helps diversify the nation’s transportation fleet, 17 and

WHEREAS, using electricity for transportation purposes contributes to a more secure, domestically generated energy source for the public’s mobility needs and adds to the nation’s energy security, and

WHEREAS, electric vehicles typically achieve greater fuel economy and have lower or no traditional fuel costs when compared to similar conventional vehicles, and

WHEREAS, electric vehicles can have significant benefits over conventional vehicles in the form of lower emissions, 27 thereby reducing greenhouse gases and lessening the extent of sea-level rise, and Florida Senate - 2021 SM 1332 24-01303-21 20211332__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

WHEREAS, the impact of measurable sea-level rise is particularly threatening for coastal states such as Florida, 31 which has more than 8,000 miles of low-elevation coastline when accounting for bays, inlets, and waterways, and

WHEREAS, 75 percent of Florida’s population lives in coastal areas that generate a significant portion of the state’s economic output, and

WHEREAS, the impacts of measurable sea-level rise are exacerbated in Florida and other coastal states by increasingly intense hurricanes experienced by their residents, and

WHEREAS, emergency evacuation prompted by hurricanes and other disasters is critical to the safety of all travelers on Florida’s roadways, and

WHEREAS, increased adoption of electric vehicle use in Florida and nationwide can facilitate energy diversity and efficiency, reduce greenhouse emissions and the impacts of sea-45 level rise, and lead to more efficient evacuation for hurricanes and other emergencies, and

WHEREAS, while projections vary for electric vehicle sales in the nation and in Florida, a consensus exists that the market share for electric vehicles is growing and will continue to grow, and

WHEREAS, a number of barriers to electric vehicle adoption exist, including their cost versus that of traditional vehicles, 53 range anxiety during longer trips, and gaps in electric vehicle charging access, at least in part because service providers locate charging stations where electric vehicle adoption is highest, and

WHEREAS, advancements in electric vehicle-related Florida Senate - 2021 SM 1332 24-01303-21 20211332__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. technology are continuing, electric vehicle manufacturing is rising, and electric vehicle prices are dropping, and these trends should facilitate expansion of electric vehicle use nationwide, and

WHEREAS, despite these trends, according to the Federal Highway Administration, the successful adoption of electric vehicle use is heavily dependent upon the accessibility of charging stations, and

WHEREAS, the gaps in electric vehicle charging station availability hinder the public’s further adoption of electric vehicles across the nation and in Florida, and

WHEREAS, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at rest areas along the interstate highway system would facilitate more use of electric vehicles,

NOW, THEREFORE, 72

Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 74 That the Florida Legislature, with all due respect, does hereby urge the Congress of the United States to authorize the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at rest areas along the interstate highway system and to authorize the service providers of such stations to charge a fee for use of the charging stations. 81 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State dispatch copies of this memorial to the President of the United States, 83 to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Florida delegation to the United States Congress. 86