By Nicholas Nhede, Smart Energy International
Dominion Energy has announced a new target to convert its vehicle fleet of more than 8,600 units to electric models.
The launch of the utility’s ‘Green Fleet’ initiative follows President Joe Biden’s executive order to make 50% of all vehicle sales in the US electric by 2030. The utility’s plan will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the 16 states the company operates in, a development that will help Dominion Energy to move closer to its net-zero goal.
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The Green Fleet initiative will enable Dominion Energy to:
- Convert 75% of passenger vehicles, including sedans and SUVs, to electric power by 2030.
- Convert 50% of work vehicles – from full-size pickups and bucket trucks to forklifts and ATVs – with plug-ins, battery electric vehicles, or vehicles fueled by cleaner-burning alternatives, such as hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and compressed natural gas, by 2030.
- Ensure 100% of all new vehicles – from sedans to heavy-duty vehicles – purchased will be powered either by electricity or alternative fuels, after 2030.
With the lack of charging infrastructure having been identified as the main barrier to clean transportation, Dominion Energy has joined the Electric Highway Coalition, which is designed to increase charging stations in US roadways.
Diane Leopold, the COO of Dominion Energy, said: “Over the years we have made significant progress cutting carbon and methane emissions in our operations to help us reach our goal of net-zero. But we wanted to go even further by slashing emissions from our vehicle fleets, too, while simultaneously developing the infrastructure needed to support EV charging access more broadly.”
Wendy Wellener, Dominion Energy’s vice president of shared services, added that customers “are telling us that they want a company that is mindful of its impact on the world around us. They want a company that leads on clean energy. But they also want safe, reliable and affordable service.”
