D.C. Council Legislation Would Require More Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

WASHINGTON -- Legislation approved unanimously last week by the District of Columbia Council would make the nation’s capital a leader in installing infrastructure for electric vehicles.

The “right to charge” law would require installation of EV charging stations at multi-unit apartment and condominium complexes. They would have to be set up in parking garages or lots.

Other provisions of the law would require property managers to set aside parking spaces for EV automobiles. In addition, homeowners could qualify for financial assistance to install EV chargers at their homes.

The legislation was written by Democrat Charles Allen, who also chairs the D.C. Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee.

“We need people to go electric – and fast,” said Allen, who also has advocated for Washington, D.C., to play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “This bill sends a clear signal that coming soon, there are going to be a lot of chargers available in places where people live, work, and shop.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser is scheduled to decide whether to sign the bill into law within days.

Sales of the vehicles have struggled because of the high costs, limited range before they need to be recharged and the small number of charging stations.

Nevertheless, they are gaining popularity because of their environmental friendliness.

As of 2023, there were around 8,100 electric vehicles registered in the District of Columbia, an increase of 37 percent from 2022, according to the federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

There are more than one thousand public EV charging ports spread among 317 locations in Washington, according to the D.C. Council.

Allen’s bill would establish a quota for charging stations the city would install. It would be set at 5 percent of the projected number of registered vehicles in any year, which would be likely to result in thousands of new charging stations if current trends in EV ownership continue.

Much of the funding would come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law approved by Congress in 2021. It provides $1.2 trillion for transportation, telecommunications and climate projects.

City financial planners project costs of about $7 million a year in local tax money, much of it for staffing to oversee the program and building code enforcement.

The law is expected to face opposition from commercial property owners who would be required to expend their resources to comply with the law.

The mayor did not oppose the legislation before the Council approved it but she did express concerns about the cost.

“Many of this bill’s provisions will not take effect because they are unfunded,” she wrote in a letter to the Council before the vote. “The Office of the Chief Financial Officer has determined the bill’s implementation costs are more than $22 million over the four-year financial plan and there is no funding in the current budget to begin implementation.”

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