Politics & Government

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Legislation Signed Today

Bills allow businesses to sell electricity for vehicles, move state toward alternative-fueled fleet.

Two laws aimed at promoting alternative-fuel vehicles in the state were signed into law Tuesday.

One, House Bill 2105, seeks to make it easier for businesses to open electric car stations. The second piece of legislation, House Bill 2282, calls for state officials to develop a plan to replace traditional state-owned vehicles with ones that operate on alternative fuels.

Both bills were signed Tuesday morning by Gov. Bob McDonnell in Richmond at the state’s Office of Fleet Management Services, which oversees about 4,000 vehicles throughout the state.

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House Bill 2105 was sponsored by Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax Station.

“The bill makes sure that the government doesn’t create a barrier to this new technology,” Bulova said.

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The legislation changes the way that electric car stations are classified.

Existing Virginia law states that all companies that are selling electricity have to be set up as public utilities. The new law eliminates that requirement and allows businesses sell electricity for car charging.

“You aren’t going to get small businesses to invest in electric car technology if they have to become a public utility,” Bulova said. “The neat thing about this bill is that it’s common sense.”

The second bill, sponsored by Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, states that the Department of General Services, the secretary of administration and the governor’s senior adviser on energy will investigate how to replace the state’s existing fleet of vehicles with alternative sources.

The group must consider infrastructure and costs, among other things.


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