Kaplan bill promoting electric vehicle charging infrastructure passes

The state Senate recently approved legislation sponsored by state Sen. Anna M. Kaplan (D-North Hills) that requires the construction of certain parking facilities to be capable of supporting electric vehicle charging stations

The bill passed was part of a package of legislation intended to combat climate change and promote environmental conservation.

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 electric vehicles on the road today and tomorrow.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which Kaplan co-sponsored,  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 electric vehicles is 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 new electric vehicle charging infrastructure.