Gov. Newsom signs suite of solar-forward EV charging bills for California
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a group of six bills into law, aiming to accelerate the Golden State’s future in the realm of electric vehicles (EV).
The new laws make EV chargers, including those connected to solar canopies and battery storage, much easier to deploy. Additionally, the laws aim to expand consumer choice across the state, and “help Californians move beyond Big Oil.”
“Donald Trump has failed to protect American families from paying skyrocketing costs at the pump because of his reckless foreign conflicts and Big Oil greed,” Newsom says. “California is choosing a stronger path: more EVs on the road, more chargers in our communities, and more affordable choices for families and businesses.
“These laws cut red tape, accelerate the infrastructure we need, and build a safer, more reliable, and more affordable future, one that is powered by California innovation, not dictated by global oil markets.”
Newsom says the new laws will support charging infrastructure in the places where most Californians live, and strengthen the overall transparency of the system so the state’s residents can more confidently choose EV transportation.
Solving practical problems
California’s new group of EV charging laws “are designed to solve practical problems that can make it harder, slower, or more expensive for Californians to choose an electric vehicle,” the state government says. First and foremost, SB 969 deals with faster public charger installation.
The bill modernizes the rules for public charger installations, according to state officials, so “manufacturer-tested chargers can get online faster, while maintaining safeguards that ensure drivers receive the electricity they pay for.”
Perhaps the most important new law for the solar world is SB 1283, introduced by State Sen. Angelique Ashby. The bill cuts red tape for the related work around many EV charging installations, including installation of trenching, electrical grid upgrades, solar canopy projects, and battery storage.
“This law clarifies that California’s streamlined permitting rules for charger installations apply to that work too, helping prevent unnecessary delays and allowing approved projects to move into construction more quickly,” the state’s summary says.
Additionally, AB 1820 introduces charging options and tears down permitting barriers around apartments and other mixed-use housing developments. The other bills signed by Newsom strengthen those consumer protections, and expand access to the wider renewable energy economy of California.
