New Analysis of Electric Transportation in the Southeast Economic Impacts: Two related reports & webinars

August 26, 2021
Contact: Amy Rawe, SACE, 865-235-1448, amyr@cleanenergy.org

Knoxville, Tenn. – Two related reports analyzing how the Southeast is leading and lagging in transportation electrification reveal the $47 billion economic boost that electrifying transportation could provide to the region, as well as what’s required for the Southeast to take a leadership role in the rapidly growing momentum to electrify transportation nationwide.

Today, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) released the first of two reports, “Retained Transportation Fuel Spending in the Southeast: Electric vs. Internal Combustion Vehicles.” The analysis shows the amount consumers spend fueling gas and diesel transportation, how much of that transportation spending remains in each Southeastern state, and what the economic effects would be if all on-road gas and diesel-powered cars, trucks, and buses are replaced with vehicles that drive entirely on electricity. The key findings include:

  • $64 billion of the region’s economy is lost each year for fueling transportation, and
  • $47 billion in transportation fuel spending could be retained annually in the Southeast by electrifying transportation.

For a wider perspective of the Southeast’s transportation electrification market, on Tuesday, August 31, in collaboration with Atlas Public Policy, SACE will release an update to the “Transportation Electrification in the Southeast” annual report.  

The updated report tracks substantial momentum in the Southeast within the past year, as well as roadblocks and opportunities for state-by-state policy, regulatory, economic development, and investment activity related to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, deployment of passenger EVs and EV charging, and government and electric utility funding for transportation electrification. The report also examines the multiplying benefits of a clean energy transition, including economic benefits to the region, improved air quality, especially for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, and the potential for reduced energy burdens, particularly for low- and moderate-income (LMI) populations.

Webinars

Register for one or both of the corresponding webinars: 

“Transportation Electrification in the Southeast”
Tuesday, August 31, 1 PM ET
Register

“Retained Transportation Fuel Spending in the Southeast: Electric vs. Internal Combustion Vehicles”
Wednesday, September 1, 10 AM ET
Register

Reports

 “Transportation Electrification in the Southeast”
This report will be released Tuesday, August 31, prior to the corresponding webinar. The link to the report will be included in a press release sent that morning along with a reminder and links for both webinars.

“Retained Transportation Fuel Spending in the Southeast: Electric vs. Internal Combustion Vehicles”
View report

Read an excerpt from the summary blog on “Retained Transportation Fuel Spending in the Southeast” here: Electric Vehicles Could Add $47 Billion Annually to Southeast Economy