Tom Ashley
Vice President of Government and Utility RelationsVoltera
Thomas Ashley, Vice President of Government and Utility Relations Tom leads Voltera's policy, regulatory, and government and utility relations strategy and engagement. He has extensive policy and planning experience in clean energy, transportation, and transportation electrification, and works to grow the market for electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure with a focus on increasing investment in charging infrastructure, expanding connectivity between EVs and the grid, growing EV equity, advancing fleet electrification, and helping develop a collaborative vision for the future of mobility, in partnership with government and the utility community.
Before joining Voltera, Tom developed and led the Policy & Market Development practice at Shell Recharge Solutions (formerly Greenlots). Tom played a leading role in the development of such industry foundations as interoperability, managed charging, and utility infrastructure investment. Tom also helped guide business and growth strategy for Greenlots/Shell Recharge Solutions, and global e-mobility policy priorities for Shell.
Prior to that, he served as the Director of Utility and Regulatory Affairs at PlugShare, where he focused on the policy frameworks necessary for vehicle-grid integration. Tom gained experience working for numerous government bodies, including while in graduate school, including the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, the Vermont Department of Public Service’s Energy Efficiency Division, and the California Public Utilities Commission. In addition, he consulted for the Electric Drive Transportation Association and also briefly ran for public office in his home state of Vermont.
Tom earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Southern California and Juris Doctor and Master of Studies in Environmental Law degrees from Vermont Law School, where he focused on energy and climate law and policy.
Tom Ashley’s Session(s):
10:30 am–11:15 am | Thu, March 21, 2024
Government Rollout: Simplify Regional Infrastructure Deployment Across Jurisdictions
Regional coordination is key to our highways being charge-ready. The EV industry is fast-moving, and municipalities and government entities are struggling to keep up. How governments collaborate to cut red tape will determine how fast they can scale infrastructure and meet the needs of the EV charging industry. The lack of EVSE policies, regulations, and government coordination hinders the ability to meet demand. Join this session to learn how municipalities can create regional alignment in the nation’s plan for charging infrastructure.
Takeaways include:
- Develop aligned strategies through crucial partnerships
- Involve key stakeholders to fast-track the deployment of infrastructure