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6/29/2021
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Senate passes Anderson’s bill which requires electric vehicle charging stations in new developments
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 STATE HOUSE – The Senate tonight passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Kendra Anderson (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) which would require electric vehicle charging stations in all new or substantial redevelopments, such as parking lots or commercial or large residential developments.
“As our society continues to shift away from combustible engine automobiles to electric ones, it is necessary that we have the infrastructure in place to accommodate these electric vehicles. This bill gets ahead of the problem by requiring these charging stations before the demand and need for them gets too high. It will not only help protect the environment, but it is also an investment in our state’s economic future by creating the electric vehicle infrastructure that our society is moving toward,” said Senator Anderson.
The legislation (2021-S 0173Aaa) states that all new parking lots and existing lots that undergo an expansion of the number of parking spaces by 50 percent or more shall create designated parking spaces for electric vehicles with electric charging stations.
Beginning on January 1, 2022, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the designation of parking spaces will be required when there is: construction of a parking lot for a new building or new off-street parking facility; an additional parking lot added to an addition for an existing building; a parking lot increased in size to add 50 percent or more parking spaces; and commercial, municipal, large employer, and housing parking lots will have to designate electrical vehicle parking spaces based on the number of parking spaces provided.
“This piece of legislation will start Rhode Island down the road of embracing electric vehicles while also establishing an equitable transition to majority electric vehicle usage so that every municipality in the state can benefit from electric vehicles. By starting now, we will avoid the substantial costs that would result if these charging stations are mandated in the future, saving both our environment and our budgets in the process,” concluded Senator Anderson.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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