Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities, in collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), has introduced a new initiative called Charging Smart. This program, supported by the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), aims to recognize and assist communities in preparing for the growing presence of electric vehicles (EVs).
Charging Smart offers personalized technical assistance at no cost to municipalities, aiding them in establishing and implementing policies conducive to the widespread adoption of EVs and EV charging infrastructure. Participating local governments can attain Bronze, Silver, or Gold designations based on specific criteria, signaling their commitment to becoming EV-friendly communities.
The pilot phase of Charging Smart targets regions in North Texas, Southern California, as well as the states of Colorado and Virginia. Meanwhile, communities in Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio are already progressing through a developmental phase of the program, with expectations that one of these states will produce the inaugural Charging Smart designated cohort this spring. A similar initiative has been initiated in Northern Illinois in collaboration with Charging Smart.
Charging Smart intends to expand its reach nationwide in the future, but currently, local governments in North Texas are encouraged to participate in the program and avail themselves of its benefits.
