The Board of County Commissioners reviewed a draft policy regarding the public use of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at county facilities.
Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager Rebecca Harvey briefed the board on Monday, September 25, about the draft policy.
The proposed policy aims to show the county’s commitment to providing publicly available EV charging stations by having free level 2 charging and fee-based level 3 or direct-current fast charging.
The policy also provides a framework for funding, ownership, site identification, planning, and use of charging stations.
Under funding, the policy encourages the county to seek state and federal grants and private investments to finance the chargers' procurement, operations, and maintenance.
The policy states that ownership of these charging stations could be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on various factors such as location and funding requirements.
When planning for the locations of these charging stations, the policy encourages the county to base its decision on a site’s feasibility, as well as known and forecasted use.
The policy also encourages the county to prioritize sites that have the potential to be shared by both the public and the county.
The policy includes steps to take for developing a workplace charging program for county employees.
Steps include planning, procurement and installation; developing use guidelines; developing incentives to promote the use of EVs and designating who would be responsible for maintenance, rule enforcement, and security.
Commissioner Gary Edwards raised a few concerns about the policy, such as how they would track the length of usage of these chargers and police their proper use.
Designated Interim County Manager Robin Campbell clarified that the policy sets a framework for moving forward and that enforcement rules would be developed once staff starts working on the procedures to implement the policy.
Edwards also questioned if providing free EV charging stations would not be considered as gifting of public resources to the public as these charging stations may be funded through state and federal grants.
Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager Rebecca Harvey reassured that it would not be the case, explaining that Chapter 43.01.250 of the Revised Code of Washington authorizes the state purchase of electricity power to charge private and public EVs at state office locations.
The board instructed county staff to look into other similar policies of nearby jurisdictions before bringing the policy back to them.
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MrMonk
Sadly, the technology used in constructing the batteries for EV's involve some of the most environmentally devastating processes imaginable.
EV's are a huge problem in themselves.
Please, people! Do your research. Don't rely on "experts" pushing climate change hysteria. There is no climate change that derives from the atmosphere. Climate is a surface-up mechanism. And atmospheric carbon dioxide is fabulous, and non-polluting, fertilizer.
Learn science.
Learn how to think for yourself.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 Report this
Johnwils
I agree with Mr. Monk that the mining for the materials for batteries is a harmful process. But so is everything related to fossil fuels. I’m not sure why the statement EV s are a huge problem in themselves….how are they worse than what we have?
As far as doing research, the scientific community is in almost total agreement regarding climate change. It seems to be the deniers that are in hysteria. And how can there be no climate change from the atmosphere? That is the air we breathe that we are pumping huge amounts of pollutants into, natural and human made…atmospheric carbon dioxide and other pollutants have increased exponentially due to humanity….no argument that the world has had different epochs of cold and hot temperatures….but our current existence is in danger because of our choices. Carbon dioxide itself isn’t bad, but the amount and it’s effects can be and are.
I like the suggestion of learn science and think for yourself. I am in total agreement there.
Saturday, September 30, 2023 Report this