Editorial: Time to make N.C., E.V. (electric vehicle) friendly

Monday, Aug. 19, 2019 -- The time for rapid and significant placement of vehicle charging stations at state facilities throughout N.C. is now. Gov. Roy Cooper can act to do it.

Posted 9:00 a.m. Aug 19, 2019 — Updated 9:00 a.m. Aug 19, 2019

CBC Editorial: Monday, Aug. 19, 2019; Editorial #8455

The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company.

At the end of last week Gov. Roy Cooper’s Department of Environmental Quality presented a “shared vision for the energy future we need in North Carolina.”

It is a far-reaching and detailed proposal that will require – which DEQ Secretary Michael Regan has made clear—more input including public comment.

The goal of the plan is to encourage the use of clean energy resources and technologies and further transition North Carolina into a clean energy economy.

A month ago the governor signed a bill that allows the state, now, to take a small, but significant step in that direction.

The new law allows those who operate publicly available electric vehicle charging stations to get drivers to pay for the electricity when charging their car batteries. That is a big change. Until this new law, it was illegal for just about anyone but a utility – such as Duke Energy, a municipal agency or a cooperative – to resell electricity.

The change – in the bill pushed by state Rep. John Szoka, R-Cumberland – removes one of the major impediments from placing the stations at places where they would be needed and used the most: state welcome centers, highway rest areas along with state parks and other public facilities.

The time for rapid and significant placement of vehicle charging stations at state facilities throughout North Carolina is now. Gov. Roy Cooper can act to do it.

Concern about potential costs forced removal six years ago of charging stations from state rest stops. The charging stations had initially been placed, at no cost to the state, through a federal energy grant program. Legislators questioned the costs to the state of the electricity being used to power-up the vehicles – which was about $44 per year.

Electric vehicles cut down on fossil fuel consumption and the related pollution of carbon emissions – a chief contributor to global climate change.

There are 12,000 passenger electric vehicles registered in North Carolina. And that doesn’t include the additional vehicles that are not registered in this state that are passing through.

Making charging stations more convenient would make North Carolina a more driver-friendly state. The ability to charge for the power used removed the chief objection to their placement. Also, those who drive electric and hybrid vehicles already pay an additional registration fee to make up for the difference in fuel consumption (and thus pay less state highway taxes).

As relates to electric vehicle charging stations, Gov. Cooper doesn’t have to wait on any more studies. He should act now.

He should direct the state Department of Transportation to work with the state departments of Environmental Quality, Natural and Cultural Resources, the state Agriculture Commissioner’s office and other appropriate agencies to develop and implement a program to place charging stations throughout the state’s system of rest areas, parks, and other public sites. The cost to the state is minimal – easily recouped through reasonable fees for power used.

The minimal cost would be more than offset – not merely by the environmental benefits but by the significant convenience and goodwill for those who travel on our roads and visit our public facilities.

This is a no-brainer. The governor should act now.