Chevron Executive Is Secretly Pushing Anti-Electric Car Effort in Arizona

by Ryan Randazzo (Arizona Republic/Arizona Central) A California lobbyist for Chevron Corp. is urging retirees of the oil company in Arizona to oppose electric-car policies here, saying the vehicles are too expensive for most people and should not be promoted.

A handful of people who either retired from Chevron or from Unocal, which Chevron acquired in 2005, have used the form letter to urge Arizona Corporation Commissioners not to require electric companies here to build electric-car charging stations.

"Let the electric vehicle industry finance the construction of the infrastructure from which it will benefit, rather than burdening most Arizona ratepayers with the costs of supporting the electric vehicle market," wrote Sel Larsen, the president of the Arizona retirees group.

Electric vehicles represent a big opportunity for utilities but regulators also are hopeful they can set policies that encourage people to charge their vehicles at times when demand on the power grid is low.

Larsen, the president of the Arizona retirees, said it was up to individuals whether to participate.

"If utilities are forced to provide infrastructure, then I pay for their choice of cars," Larsen said. "The government already subsidizes that industry." READ MORE