Senate Bill S7283

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7283

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the energy law, in relation to allowing new buildings
where new parking is provided to have an optional, charger-agnostic,
power-based allocation method alternative to certain electric vehicle
charging infrastructure requirements

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

An Act directing the New York State Department of State's Division of
Building Standards and Codes to promulgate rules establishing an
optional, charger-agnostic, power-based allocation method for electric
vehicle charging in new parking lots.

 
SUMMARY:

Section 1: "electric vehicle ready infrastructure" shall mean all elec-
trical components, terminating in a receptacle or outlet, as necessary
to enable electric vehicle charging and support electric vehicle charg-
              

ing stations; "electric vehicle charging station" shall mean all the
equipment necessary to deliver electricity from a source outside an
electric vehicle into one or more electric vehicles, as defined by the
code council.

Section 2: Within twelve months of the effective date of this paragraph,
the department of state division of building standards and codes shall
promulgate rules and regulations establishing an optional, charging
agnostic, power-based allocation method alternative to meet the require-
ments of this subdivision

Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York has set ambitious climate and electrification goals through
policies such as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act
(CLCPA), Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars II rules, and
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales targets. The state aims to transition
to an electrified transportation sector by 2050, requiring significant
expansion of EV charging infrastructure.

However, EV adoption has been hindered by insufficient charging avail-
ability. To meet the growing demand for EV charging stations, it is
essential to integrate charging infrastructure requirements into new
construction projects.

This bill establishes a power allocation approach to provide flexibility
in meeting these requirements, ensuring cost-effective deployment of
charging stations without mandating a fixed number of chargers per park-
ing space.

The power allocation method allows developers to install Level 2 and/or
Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) based on anticipated needs while
maintaining grid stability through energy management controls.  This
approach enables property owners to optimize charging capacity, reducing

unnecessary infrastructure costs while ensuring adequate charging
options for EV users.

California offers a model for this approach.  In its 2023 update to the
green building code, known as "Cal Green," the state adopted a power-
based minimum threshold alongside space-based requirements. The Califor-
nia Building Standards Commission, in its "Additional 15-day Express
Terms for the 2022 California Green Building Standards Code, Part 11,
Title 24," supported a framework where parking facilities with 100 spac-
es must provide 165 kW of power, while lots with 1,000 spaces require
1,300 kW. This adjusts EV charging requirements to reflect the high
capacity of DCFCs and removes disincentives to expanding fast-charging
infrastructure.
  charging stations compliant with the National Electric Vehicle Infras-
tructure  (NEVI)  program  must  include four chargers, each offering at
least 150 kW charging speeds, though the DCFC industry can reach 350 kW.

A power-based requirement complements national efforts to  expand  fast-
charging  infrastructure by promoting the installation of NEVI-compliant
stations. By requiring new parking facilities to incorporate EV charging
infrastructure, this legislation aligns New York's building  codes  with
its  broader environmental and transportation policies. The bill ensures
that the state remains a leader in clean energy and sustainable develop-
ment, reducing barriers to EV adoption and accelerating  the  transition
to a zero-emissions transportation system.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.