**The hearing focused on the Kuster-backed CLEAN Future Act to build a more resilient, more sustainable energy grid**
**The full Subcommittee hearing is available HERE**
**Kuster’s full remarks are available HERE**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee, participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled, "The CLEAN Future Act: Driving Decarbonization of the Transportation Sector." During the hearing, the Members heard from energy sector experts about the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry and the need to boost American competitiveness.

“The transportation sector is the number one source of carbon emissions in the United States,” said Rep. Kuster. “We have the opportunity in New Hampshire and across the country to decarbonize our electric grid, transition to electric vehicles, and reduce carbon pollution. In order to make this transformative change and support the broad use of electric vehicles (EVs), we need to build out a robust network of fast charging stations around the country.”

“These fast charging stations can’t be isolated to urban areas, or along major highways — we need policies to pave the way for EV charging stations to operate in rural communities, too,” Rep. Kuster continued. “One of the major barriers to deploying fast charging stations in rural communities are fees called ‘demand charges’ which electric companies place on businesses with fast charging stations. In New Hampshire, this means small businesses and towns can’t afford to operate fast charging stations. I look forward to working with my colleagues to resolve this important barrier to expanding clean energy infrastructure in our state.”

Witnesses at today’s Subcommittee hearing included:

Amol Phadke, M.S., Ph.D.

Staff Scientist and Deputy Department Head, International Energy Analysis Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Joe Britton

Executive Director, Zero Emissions Transportation Association

Josh Nassar

Legislative Director, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)

David Jankowsky

Founder and President, Francis Energy

Michelle Michot Foss, Ph.D.

Fellow in Energy & Minerals, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University

AJ Siccardi

President, Metroplex Energy

A member of the House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee and House Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, Kuster is a leader in Congress to combat climate change, preserve the environment, and create a clean energy economy. Earlier this year, Kuster led 39 colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden administration urging the inclusion of funding to retrofit, rehabilitate, and remove dams in the next infrastructure package to improve public safety, increase free-flowing rivers, expand low-carbon generation, and create jobs.

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