You know the whole point of adding
all these electric charging stations
to Texas highways is to get more
people to actually buy electric
vehicles that will reduce emissions.
But before this project
gets too far down the road,
Terry County Commissioner Gary
Ficos says that Texas lawmakers must
finally make a change to state law
that they have been reluctant to do.
Commissioner fish is thanks
for being here with us.
We just heard from Secretary Bowdidge
about rolling out these charging
stations all across the state of Texas.
How much of a game changer is this really?
Well, I I think the charging stations
are reflection, obviously of where the
automobile industry seems to be headed.
I think most of our major manufacturers
have made a commitment to go
to electric vehicles or ivis.
With, uh, you know a certain percentage,
half, or even in some cases more
of their fleet being electric.
You know you gotta,
you gotta charge them somewhere.
They're only gonna go so many so many
miles with the charge and the bill that
was passed through Congress I want
to say allocates about $7.5 billion
and they want to take it roughly.
5 billion of that.
And do charging stations like
500,000 charging stations across
the country implemented over a five
year period with about 100,000.
Stations a year.
Well, when they do that currently we
have about 100,000 total charging
stations in the United States right now,
so they're talking about you know.
Obviously,
a major increase in that,
but you know that as we were talking.
Maybe earlier that the the real
question is for the States and the
people that maintain these roads.
Electric vehicles will not currently
don't pay anything.
To drive on our roads?
Well, let's explain that to our
viewers who might not know this.
Every time you fill up with gas,
you pay a tax. The gas tax and and
part of that money pays to actually
build roads and expand roads.
Electric vehicles, as you mentioned,
don't have to fill up with gas.
They don't pay the gas tax,
but those drivers still drive on those roads.
The legislature, though, as you know,
last session did not require or
mandate attacks on electric vehicles.
Is it time the legislature does
that? I think it's certainly time.
To do something that creates
some type of payment form of
payment for electric vehicles.
The legislature is so adverse to doing
anything that has the word tax in it.
They just don't get it that you know if
if we had implemented a 5% increase in
our own gasoline tax 1215 years ago,
we wouldn't have one toll road in Texas.
We've been able to pay for,
so what's your message to
to the state lawmakers then?
To start looking at the
reality of what's going on.
On the gasoline tax and the implications
that the ivys are going to have long term.
You know? Who's you know we're going
to put in all these charging stations?
Those things you know who's
going to maintain them?
Who's going to own them?
It's a it's an 80 percent,
20% split on on putting them in where
the feds are paying 80 states paying 20.
But who maintains somewheres?
Where are those dollars coming from?
A lot of a lot of unanswered questions.
I know that you are likely to be trying
to get to the bottom of those as so many
others are interested in them as well.
Commissioner, thank you for the time
you bet. Thank you.