By Aaron Dorman | Pinal Central
CASA GRANDE — Following a roundtable discussion with county leaders, Sinema spoke with PinalCentral about how the infrastructure package could help support the area’s burgeoning EV vehicle and solar industries.
Although not specific to Pinal County, Sinema said in an interview Wednesday that a good part of the $65 million earmarked for bolstering the electrical grid was intended for additional solar infrastructure, as well as added energy efficiency. Sinema said there was also funding for demonstration projects for new ways of capturing solar energy.
The bill also includes money for EV buses and charging stations. However, environmentalists have cautioned that the EV vehicle’s impact is contingent upon a greening of the electrical grid and increasing solar’s share of production.
The Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act does not include a mandate to switch to renewable vehicles or electricity, but that is expected to be a component of the second infrastructure package that Democrats are hoping to pass through reconciliation.
