Monthly Archives: August 2018

Business, Legal and Regulatory TREND. Recouping the Cost of EV Charging Stations. Coming to a Legislature Near You.

WHERE: Missouri

What happened? Courts are determining whether EV charging stations are a means of obtaining a charging service or more like a gas station?

What’s the impact? If the EV charging stations are treated like gas stations then utilities can add EV charging stations in their rate base

What did the state PUC argue? That the EV charging stations offer a service, not the sale of electricity, and are not to be included in the rate base

What are Missouri courts saying? An Appellate…

CAMPAIGN and LEGE TREND. No Tollroads without Voter Approval Per Project. WHO. WHAT. WHERE.

WHO:  Michael Quinn Sullivan

WHAT:  Pushing local activists for primary election question on voter approval for toll roads, adding voter approval for tolls to the State GOP Party Platform, and calling for legislation

WHERE: Texas local GOP party activist, state GOP party, and Texas Legislature

Empower Texas | No Tolls without Voter Approval 

9 Ways TX Using VW Environmental Mitigation Funds

Public Comment on the draft Mitigation Plan through October 8th at TCEQ.

Eligible mitigation actions:

 

  • Statewide Light-Duty ZEV Supply Equipment Funding (15% of funding)
  • In prioritity areas: (81% of funding)
    • Class4-7LocalFreightTrucks
    • Class 8 Local Freight Trucks and Port Drayage Trucks
    • Class 7 – 8 Refuse Vehicle
    • School Buses
    • Transit and Shuttle Buses
    • Electric Forklifts and Port Cargo Handling Equipment
    • Electric Airport Ground Support Equipment
    • Ocean-Going Vessel Shore…

Lege TREND. Legislators Opposing Rural DPS Office Closures. 5 Reasons Why.

Reasons the rural Texas legislators oppose the Texas Susnet Commission’s recommednation to close 87 rural DPS offices:

  •  places an unfair burden on rural communities
  • many counties have only 1 office, and that office would no longer exist
  • long-standing tendency to shift resources away from rural areas
  • No demonstrated success is shifting funding away from rural areas
  • “The approach the Sunset staff has taken is penny wise and pound foolish. Reducing the services, security, and emergency…

Regulatory TREND | Reduce Utility Rates for EV Charging. WHO. WHAT. WHERE. HOW.

WHO |  DTE Energy & Consumers Energy

WHAT |  Include in their 3 year plans a reduction in utility rates for EV charging

WHERE | Michigan

HOW |  

  • incentivizing EV drivers to charge at home during off-peak hours
  • the shift will drive down rates for all customers by millions of dollars
  • DTE’s $13 million pilot program for time of use rebates

Energy News | Michigan utilities look to lower rates through EV time of use charging

 

LOCAL TREND | 5 Points of NYC's Ride Share Cap

  • Caps the number of vehicles by prohibiting new ride share licenses
  • The cap is for 1 year
  • Also required is minimum wage, at a minimum for drivers
  • During the year, the Taxi and Limousine Commission will study the impact of ride share
  • Does not apply to disabled or disadvantaged areas

CNBC | New York City just voted to cap Uber and Lyft vehicles, and that could make rides more expensive

NYTimes | Uber Hit With Cap as New York City Takes Lead in Crackdown

Local TREND. Wheel Taxes Locally. What. Where. How. Supporters. Opponents.

What: A tax imposed on car registration by a local government & can be imposed by multiple local governments like county and city

Where:  Madison Wisconsin

How: Dane County implemented a $28 wheel tax + Madison, WI is considering a $17 wheel tax for an annual vehicle registration of $120

Supporters Say: It prevents cuts to public transit budget

Opponents Say: Raise the state gas tax.  More effective way to secure funding for the improvements the transit system and roads

WMTV | Madison…