Information for In Committee news reports are sourced from GoldenDomeVt.com and the General Assembly website. 

by VDC Staff

Lawmaker introduces transportation bill to incentivise gas stations to install electric vehicle chargers to foster community building and socializing. 

On Friday this week in the Vermont House Committee on Transportation, Representative Brian Cina (P/D-Chittenden 15) introduced his bill, H.814, that aims to expand Vermont’s network of electric vehicle chargers through a pilot program of grant incentives together with the expansion of services that increase socialization and other social drivers of health. The bill also establishes 

two additional pilot programs, one to strengthen Vermont’s struggling public transportation system and another to encourage ridesharing through a state operated program similar to Uber. 

A 2025 report by Drive Electric Vermont, places the number of electric vehicles around 18,000 and the number of electric chargers between 450-500. These numbers represent a surge in statewide EV adoption year-to-year. 

Cina began his testimony by pointing out that the gas stations in Vermont tend to be more than a place to fill up your car. He explains to the committee that stations generally have food and beverages and sometimes even a restaurant like Dunkin Donuts, but also often seating and a gathering area. These gas stations usually become “hangouts” and are often used by elders who congregate to socialize and drink coffee. 

Cina’s goal is to expand Vermont’s electric driving network while promoting these social drivers of health for all travelers. “And so it’s expanding on that concept that our fuel facilities could be incentivized in some way to not just provide petrochemicals, but electricity for electric vehicles. 

And then if people are going to be waiting, even if it’s twenty minutes for an electric vehicle to charge. I don’t know the average charge times for the record. I don’t have one [an electric vehicle]. But I don’t think it’s less than twenty minutes usually, that they could be taking care of themselves and building community so that people could be hanging out at gas stations…” For context, the benefits of socialization are widely known and accepted to improve both mental and physical health, and studies have also shown an increase in longevity. 

When asked by a member of the committee to explain his definition of the “services” that could be expanded at station locations, Cina defines services broadly to more than just gasoline or electric charging but to anything that a business owner could add to expand their business vitality, like a nightclub, inn, or yoga studio. “What’s your definition of services? At the very minimum, it would be petrochemicals. It would be electric charging stations, perhaps food and restroom facilities. But perhaps some people decide to open inns at their gas stations like it used to be when you traveled by stagecoach, so people could stay overnight while their car charges.

Or perhaps it could be that they have entertainment, that they have nightclubs or day clubs or a yoga studio or a sauna or, I don’t know, I would encourage people to think big”, said Cina. He goes on to describe this idea as, “the next generation of a convenience store”. 

Cina clarifies that this expansion or addition of services would not be charity on behalf of the business owner, but potentially help their business by bringing in additional revenue and diversifying their income. “And these could be things they sell. So I’m not saying that we would be asking business owners to give things away free. It’s just more like to offer more options to people to receive services at their service areas. Or maybe the state working with them to provide some stuff at the service areas, kind of how we give out free coffee at the travel stops and stuff.” 

Testimony then moved on to the other sections of Rep. Cina’s bill that deals with stabilizing and expanding state public transit systems. Public transportation in Vermont is facing major challenges between funding cuts, declining ridership, and high costs for maintenance and gasoline. Cina describes this situation as a “downward spiral” of transit service cuts leading to a loss of appeal and ridership. He explains that for many Vermonters, public transit is the only method to travel and they potentially face being stranded when service lines shut down. 

One example included in the bill for the pilot program is to gamify transit, including opportunities to win prizes or earn discounts at local businesses. Cina claims that this would make riding public transit fun and would support local businesses along transit corridors. However, ultimately, the bill directs the Agency of Transportation to develop these pilot programs. Another idea he offers in the bill is the adoption of an autonomous vehicle system to fill gaps in service schedules, though he describes this idea as “far-fetched right now”.