Charging into the future: Council calls for guidelines for development of electric car charging stations

August 31, 2009

Summary

Dunn proposal will aid in preparation and use of charging stations at County facilities

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today continued its support of green technology with its unanimous call for policies to guide the development and use of electric vehicle charging stations at County facilities.

“I am excited about moving to greener technologies in the county but in order to provide a successful transition of the County’s fleet to electric cars, we must have the policies in place to recoup our investment in these charging stations,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn, prime sponsor of the motion. “This is the time for the Executive to map out a long-term strategy to help the county plan for future electric car use.”

“Electric vehicles provide an opportunity for King County to promote and support clean technologies that help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Council Chair Dow Constantine. “With federal grant funding now available for electric vehicle projects, King County can continue its record as an innovator in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in enabling its citizens to benefit from new technologies.”

New technologies are making electric vehicles economically feasible to own, and federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help King County provide convenient charging stations for owners to recharge their vehicles. As the County expands its use of this form of green transportation, County agencies need a policy framework to guide the rollout and the type of costs that can be borne by the public.

“Electric vehicles are coming to King County, and we must be ready to meet the future as it arrives,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, who participated in an electric vehicle demonstration project for King County. “King County can play a role in making electric vehicles more viable through the policies we set to manage and expand the availability of charging stations at our facilities.”

“The development of plug-in hybrid vehicles and stations to charge them will create jobs and a cleaner environment,” said King County Councilmember Jane Hague. “King County must continue to lead with this ‘win-win’ technology.”

The adopted motion directs the Executive to draft policies for the operation of charging stations on properties owned or leased by the County, and to examine the cost considerations in development and operation of these stations. The motion calls for the Executive to submit these policies to the County Council by October 1, 2009.

“The bottom line is that we have to update our policies before the County invests in any new technology,” said Dunn.


Read the motion