The New “Make New York EV Ready” Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Legislation Passes

Today, Senator Anna M. Kaplan passed legislation, S.23A/A.4386, to promote the development of new electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

This will help ease the transition to electric vehicles from Harlem to the Hudson.

The bill passed as part of a package of legislation supported by Senator Kaplan that will combat climate change and promote environmental conservation.

Senator Anna M. Kaplan said “climate change has the power to devastate life on Long Island, and in order to combat it we must take decisive action and make real investments in the green infrastructure, technology, and jobs of the future. Ensuring that new parking structures are pre-wired for electric vehicle charging is a no-brainer, and it’s what needs to be done to ensure that our infrastructure will be ready to handle the growing number of EVs on the road today and tomorrow. I’m proud to sponsor legislation to get it done, and I’m proud to support the full package of environmental legislation being passed today.”

New York has the most aggressive climate change law in the nation, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which Senator Kaplan co-sponsored, and which requires an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

With the transportation sector accounting for the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state, reducing vehicle emissions will be a vital component in achieving the goals of the CLCPA.

One major impediment to the adoption of EVs by the general public is “range anxiety,” or the fear of running out of power on a drive and not being able to find a charging station.

This legislation combats this problem by ensuring greater access to charging stations by drivers by requiring the installation of a new EV charging infrastructure.

Specifically, S.23A/A.4386, requires any new parking garage or parking lot capable of accommodating 50 or more cars, that receives state capital funding, to be capable of supporting electric charging stations at a minimum of 20% of available parking spaces.

The bill passed as part of a package of legislation supported by Senator Kaplan that will combat climate change and promote environmental conservation.

Read more about the full legislative package at www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/anna-m-kaplan/senator-kaplan-senate-majority-advance-environmental

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said “New York has the most ambitious climate law in the country, but we absolutely cannot meet these important greenhouse reduction mandates without a mix of technologies including wind, solar, hydro, battery storage, and electric vehicles. Transportation generates 33% of our greenhouse gas emissions and automobiles are a large part of that generation. Electric cars are on their way to being in every driveway in New York therefore, we cannot wait to provide charging infrastructure, we need to plan it now. EVs are becoming more readily available and more affordable, we need to have the basic infrastructure in place to support the transition from polluting fossil fuel vehicles to clean EVs. CCE is thrilled that Senator Kaplan has introduced legislation to make NY EV ready and require charging at new parking garages and lots.”

“On behalf of our 65,000 members, I would like to thank Senator Anna Kaplan for her steadfast leadership and commitment to a greener future,” said Matthew Aracich, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counites. “S23A represents a major step forward in the construction and personal transportation industries. Assigning dedicated EV charging spaces and infrastructure during the construction of our parking garages is not only common sense, but also represents a real step in achieving our plan for a green future for the Empire State.”