http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2016/02/don-t-give-oregon-s-utilities-monopoly-authority.html Don’t give Oregon’s utilities monopoly authority over EV charging Feb 24, 2016 Megan Schrader
[image http://media.bizj.us/view/img/6736492/pdx-airport-ev-charging-stations.jpg Proposed legislation to double the state's renewable energy output, as written, would restrict competition and innovation in the EV charging station sphere, according to our guest columnist. PR NEWSWIRE ] Guest opinion: Megan Schrader, executive director for the Northwest at TechNet, on why legislation about coal could have an impact on the future of electric vehicles With just days left in the state’s 2016 legislative session, Oregon’s elected officials face a pivotal decision to enable cleaner transportation. Will we rely upon an antiquated command and control regulatory model, giving utilities monopoly power to achieve our emissions reduction goals. Or, will we create a network of charging stations that compete on price, location, and service? The Oregon Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Plan, or House Bill 4036, seeks to accelerate broad adoption of electric vehicles by directing utility investments in EV charging stations. For this to happen effectively, the bill must be written in a way that creates a more open EV charging industry – where utilities play a role without crowding out a competitive marketplace. The good news is that the Senate Transportation and Business Committee just approved an amendment to help fix the bill. Now the full Legislature must approve the legislation as amended. As residents continue to purchase electric vehicles, they need a robust network of stations that compete on price, location, and service. Without this amendment, the Legislation would give monopoly control to two energy utilities that will simply pass on the expense of EV charging infrastructure development to ratepayers. It would also overturn a 2012 decision from the Oregon Public Utilities Commission that created a clear set of guidelines for these utility investments in charging stations. And it would restrict PUC oversight, limiting its ability to ensure that competition and consumer choice are considered in reviewing utility applications. Drivers should be able to charge their electric vehicles at workplaces, grocery stores, malls, parks, and many other locations across the state. Not only will this help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also drive innovation and create jobs. But how this goal is achieved is critically important. Under the amended Legislation, the bill will stimulate innovation and competition, attract private capital, and create quality jobs in oregon. [© bizjournals.com] For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Don-t-give-OR-utilities-monopoly-authority-over-EVSE-tp4680768.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
