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Plug-ins for
electric cars foisted on communities without funding
Legislation requires
communities next to high volume transportation corridors
to install
electric car infrastructure
Rep. Richard DeBolt today said legislation passed by the
House that would require communities next to Interstate 5 to provide
plug-ins for electric vehicles is an unfunded mandate.
House
Bill 1481 would require all communities adjacent to Interstate 5,
Interstate 90, Interstate 405, and State Route 520 to create an
infrastructure for electric vehicles by 2011
“This is not the
time to slap another unfunded mandate on local governments,” said
DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “I’m not sure where the Legislature expects local
communities to find a new pot of money to pay for this infrastructure.
They are struggling to provide basic services as it is. ”
Washington would
be one be the first states in the nation to require charging stations be
located along state-operated highway rest stops and adjacent
communities. DeBolt also called into question the wisdom of mandating
charging outlets for electric vehicles prior to the mass production of
electric vehicles.
“It makes
absolutely no sense to ask communities to install outlets without any
idea what the demand for them is going to be,” said DeBolt. “The effect
this bill will have on rural counties and cities have not been
addressed, the need for charging stations has not been identified and
the money for installation will mean other basic services will likely
receive less. When there is a demand for these types of services, you
can bet the private sector step up to them. This is no place for state
government to intrude. The bottom-line: This is ill-conceived idea with
many unintended consequences.”
HB 1481 is now
headed to the governor for her signature.
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For more information, contact:
Lisa Fenton, Communications
Director - (360) 786-7728
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