Lauren Lantry (202) 548-6599 lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
Boston, MA -- Close to midnight yesterday, on the last day of the informal session, the Massachusetts legislature passed an Act promoting zero emission vehicle adoption, which contains measures to reduce barriers to electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Massachusetts.
If signed by Governor Baker, the bill will prohibit subscription fees or membership requirements from being imposed on EV drivers using publicly accessible charging stations and require charging station operators to disclose their location and other information to the U.S. Department of Energy. Additionally it will allow EV drivers to more easily find public chargers, authorize municipalities to restrict certain parking spaces to drivers of electric vehicles only, direct the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Department of Transportation to study opportunities for electrification of the state vehicle fleet, and authorize electric utilities to submit proposals to the Department of Public Utilities for cost recovery to construct, own, and operate publicly available EV charging stations.
An important provision was weakened in the bill at the last minute, changing from a requirement to a recommendation that the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) has the authority to amend the state building code to require new residential and commercial buildings to be pre-wired for EV charging.
“By making electric vehicle charging and parking more convenient for Massachusetts residents, this bill is a key stop on the roadmap to clean transportation,” said Emily Norton, Massachusetts Director for the Sierra Club. “With oil from the transportation sector responsible for nearly 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s climate-disrupting pollution, it is imperative that we speed up the transition to clean electric vehicles. For those who drive, electricity is a healthier form of fuel than petroleum and better for our local economies, especially as our electric grid is increasingly powered by renewable energy. We believe this bill will continue the progress Massachusetts has made under Governor Baker in persuading more drivers to make their next car one that is powered by clean electricity, and we urge the administration to swiftly adopt the recommendations for improving electric vehicle charging infrastructure through updating building codes and approving utility-supported programs. We also offer a special thanks to Representatives Hecht and Smizik in the House, and Senators Eldridge, Pacheco and Brady in the Senate, for their tireless advocacy to get the bill passed.”
“We must be mindful of our greenhouse gas emissions, especially those emitted by our transportation sector,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton), co-sponsor of the bill. “We need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and make it easier for owners of electric cars to use their vehicles while incentivizing the transition to zero-emission transportation.”
“Widespread electric vehicle adoption is critical if the Commonwealth is to reduce its GHG emissions and improve its air quality. This legislation represents an important and timely step toward that better future. It includes a suite of provisions to make charging substantially easier for electric vehicle drivers. Combined with the Baker Administration’s commitment to the MOR-EV rebate program, the bill will help ensure that electric vehicles are a convenient and affordable choice for Massachusetts residents,” said Representative Jonathan Hecht.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org