Category Archives: 2019 issue

Regulatory TREND. Allowing 3rd Party EV Station Ownership

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission removed barriers that prevented 3rd party ownership of EV charging stations.

The regulatory changes:

  • EV charging stations will not be considered “resale of electricity”
  • EV stations will be excluded from pricing requirements of the state’s Public Utilities Code

Utility Dive | Pennsylvania removes barrier to third-party EV charging station ownership

Lege TREND. E-Bike Legislation. 12 States.

The states considering E-bike legislation:

  • Wyoming, signed by WY Governor
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • New York
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin

What does this model legislation do?

  • organizes e-bikes into 3 categories, based on design, top motor-assisted speed & federal regulation
  • clarifies the sale of ebikes for small business

Bicylce Retailer | UPDATE: Wyoming governor signs three-class e-bike law

Regulatory TREND. High Speed Rail. Learning from tall HSR bridges in California

Where are these bridges on the HSR route? roads that cross the HSR path

What measurement stanadard was used? 27 feet clearance above the top of the rails

How tall is that? You could double stack Shinkansens trains beneath them

How does this compare to other HSR projects?

  • TEXAS
    • Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas: “at least 19 feet of clearance.” 
  • FRANCE
    • operate with 21 feet of clearance

 

Slate | Why Did California Build Such Tall Bridges Over Its…

TX Attorney General Opinion. County Roads v. Public Roads.

KP-0240 is about whether a pulic road with a gate on on it, can the county open the gate, effectively treating the road as a county road. 

What did the Attorney General Opinion say about what the county can or cannot do with the gate on the public road? Until the road is a county road, or the county is party ot a court order, the county cnanot open the gate

What do I need to know about public roads and county roads from a regulatory/legislative approach?

  • Texas statutes use “county road” and…

Lege Trend. Anatomy of a Statewide Scooter Bill. Applies liability to Operator.

Indiana’s HB 649 (2019 | IN) would:

  • exempts schooters from motor vehicle requirements
  • classifies e-scooters as bicycles- stop lights and bike lanes matter
  • exempts e-scooter firms from financial responsibility for accidents
  • liability is on the operator
  • sets standards such as:
    • maximum speed
    • number of wheels
    • proper lighting
    • weight 

Nuvo Indy | E-Scooter Bill Zips Out of House

Regulatory TREND. 3 Recommendations. Regulatory Report. Utility Investment in EV Charging.

Who is making recommendations? Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection

What are the 3 recommendations for utilties to invest in EV?

  • transportation electrification
  • establishing statewide sales goals
  • expanding an alternative fuel investment grants program for municipalities, businesses and organizations

3 Ways the EV investment can benefit utilities:

  • invest in EV infrastructure to benefit drivers and the grid
  • support fleet EV purchases for government
  • Innovative financing…

Lege TREND. Sate of the State Calls for Curbing High Speed Rail. 5 Bits informed intel.

Gavin Newsom’s first State of State called for curbing California’s high speed rail project because it:

  • extending the rail would cost too much and take too long
  • project’s persistent cost overruns, mismanagement and delays
  • a San Diego to San Francisco train doesn’t appear viable
  • little oversight
  • not enough transparency

Governing | Breaking From Predecessor, California Governor to Scale Back High-Speed Rail Project