Thea Yagerlener, Senior Program Manager at IREC, gave this presentation at the Forth Building EV-ready Communities to Accelerate Adoption webinar on May 13, 2025.

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Thea Yagerlener | Senior Program
Manager
theay@irecusa.org
May 13, 2025

2. Interstate Renewable Energy
Council
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IREC builds the foundation for rapid adoption
of clean energy and energy efficiency to
benefit people, the economy, and our planet.

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IREC advances energy solutions through
three complementary pathways.
Workforce
Development
IREC leads efforts to grow a
diverse and qualified clean
energy workforce by
implementing strategies that
unite stakeholders to improve
recruitment, education,
training, and job placement
outcomes.
Local Initiatives
IREC helps cities, counties,
and towns use policy tools
and resources to drive the
growth of clean energy,
address climate change,
and create new jobs.
Regulatory
Engagement
IREC is a national leader in
regulatory policies that
advance the growth of
distributed energy resources,
such as rooftop solar and
energy storage.

4. Charging Smart provides free
technical assistance and national
recognition to local governments to
facilitate the adoption of electric
vehicles (EVs) and EV charging for
their residents and businesses.
What Is Charging Smart?
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Modeled off
the success of
SolSmart
500+ designated
communities
43 states and
counting
Over 1 in 3 US
residents live in a
SolSmart
designated
community

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● Free technical assistance
and national recognition to
local governments
● Strategically manage the
expansion of energy
technologies
● Energy-Ready.org

7. Charging Smart Partners
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8. Industry Advisory Partners
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9. Designation Structure
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80 points 150 points
300 points

10. Charging Smart Action Categories
Planning Regulation
Utility
Engagement
Government
Operations
Education and
Incentives
Shared Mobility
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11. Charging Smart best practices covered in today’s webinar:
✓ Educating commercial property owners on EVs and EV charging
✓ Creating financial incentives for EVs and EV charging
✓ Installing chargers in ROW and near multifamily housing
✓ Workplace charging at municipal properties
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Best Practices

12. • Clear pathway to achieve designation
• Vetted best practices and implementation
strategies
• Guidebooks, templates, and model language
• Tailored support to communities at all levels
• Meet your community’s adopted goals and
implement plans
• Effectively address critical concerns including:
• Land use and zoning regulations
• Permitting
Expert Technical Assistance
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13. • Supplement and leverage staff
capacity and funding
• Amplify impacts of state and
federal funding
• Remove unnecessary barriers
• Decreased soft costs
• EV market growth
Benefits of Charging Smart
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14. • Celebrate your community’s
accomplishments
• Be recognized as a national
leader
• Send a signal that your
community is “open for EV
charging”
• Attract new business
• Create new jobs
• Spur economic growth
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Charging Smart Designation
Representatives of Minnesota cities pose with their Charging Smart recognitions.

15. Sign up at ChargingSmart.org
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Learn More and Get Started