Republican lawmaker argues requiring electric charging stations limits local control
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Republican lawmaker wants to block counties or cities from requiring businesses besides gas stations to have electric car charging stations.
Sen. Ben Brown (R-Franklin) said during committee testimony Tuesday that this bill is about giving control to private businesses. Brown and supporters of the bill believe forcing a business owner to install the electric vehicle charging station could be pricey and put them at a competitive disadvantage. Brown said large cities across the state have been moving toward this for some time.
The bill would require any local county or city that enforces a requirement for electric vehicle charging stations at businesses to pay for installation, maintenance and operation.
During a hearing for this bill Tuesday morning, a representative for a group that supports electric vehicle readiness said this bill could stop cities from being prepared and safe for more people to start driving electric vehicles.
"I don't believe this bill bans EV readiness, but I do believe it will put a chilling effect on any municipality's efforts," said Irl Scissors, executive director of Electrify Missouri.
Brown's fellow committee members wondered whether this is a big enough problem to warrant state intervention.
A similar bill passed out the Missouri House of Representatives last week. The House bill was amended to include that gas stations, convenience stores and truck stops can also not be required to have electric vehicle charging stations.
Columbia resident and electric car owner Jason Christ said having charging stations all over the city would make it easier for more people to own electric cars.
"I would say for the most part most people charge at home, but increasing the number of charging stations would definitely allow more folks to have electric cars and not have issues charging," Christ said.
A study from iSeeCars identified Missouri as the 17th most electric-car-friendly state in the country. There are 88 total electric car chargers in Columbia and Jefferson City. St. Louis is the worst-ranked city in the country for electric car chargers and Kansas City is among the best.
At the same hearing, a bill about dumping wastewater was heard. Sen. Jason Bean (R-Butler) introduced a bill that would make it illegal to dump containments into state waters. It also regulates the disposal of certain minerals that could impact the environment of that water.
