Washington Incentives and Laws for Other

The list below contains summaries of all Washington incentives and laws related to Other.

Utility/Private Incentives

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Incentive - Coulomb Technologies

Coulomb Technologies' ChargePoint America program offers EVSE at no cost to individuals or entities in the Bellevue and Redmond metropolitan areas, excluding Seattle. To be eligible for free home charging stations, individuals living within the specified areas must purchase a qualified plug-in electric vehicle. Application information is available on the ChargePoint America website. In most cases, the EVSE owner will pay for the installation; some cities, states, and utilities, however, will provide funding towards installation costs. All participants in the ChargePoint America program must agree to anonymous data collection after installation. Additional restrictions may apply.

Laws and Regulations

Electric Vehicle (EV) Promotion and Infrastructure Development

Any regional transportation planning organization containing a county with a population greater than one million must collaborate with state and local governments to promote EV use, invest in EV infrastructure, and seek federal or private funding for these efforts. Collaborative planning efforts may include: 1) developing short- and long-term plans outlining how state, regional, and local governments may construct EV charging locations and ensure that the infrastructure can be electrically supported; 2) supporting public education and training programs on EVs; 3) developing an implementation plan for counties with a population greater than 500,000 to have 10% of public and private parking spaces ready for EV charging by December 31, 2018; and 4) developing model ordinances and guidance for local governments for site assessment and installing EV infrastructure. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 47.80.090)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Availability

Publicly and privately owned EVs may be charged at state office locations where the vehicles are used for state business, conducting business with the state, or as commuter vehicles. Additionally, contingent upon funding, the state must install electrical outlets suitable for charging EVs in each of the state's fleet parking and maintenance facilities as well as every state-operated highway rest stop by December 31, 2015. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 43.01.250, 43.19.648, and 47.38.075)

Local Government Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Requirements

Jurisdictions must develop regulations to allow the use of EV infrastructure and battery charging stations in all areas except critical areas or areas zoned for residential or resource use. This regulation applies to jurisdictions that meet specific location criteria. The Washington Department of Commerce included a model ordinance, development regulations, and guidance for local governments for site assessment and installing EV infrastructure in "Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: A Guide for Local Governments in Washington State." This requirement is contingent upon federal funding. Additionally, cities or municipalities may adopt incentive programs to encourage retrofitting of existing structures capable of charging EVs. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 35.63.126, 35.63.127, 35A.63.107, 36.70.695, and 36.70A.695)

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and Battery Exchange Station Regulations

State and local governments may lease land for installing, maintaining, and operating EVSE or electric vehicle battery exchange stations for up to 50 years. Additionally, the installation of battery charging and exchange stations is categorically exempt from the Washington Environmental Policy Act. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 79.13.100 and 43.21C.410)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Definitions

EV infrastructure is defined as structures, machinery, and equipment necessary and integral to support an EV, including battery charging stations, rapid charging stations, and battery exchange stations. A battery charging station is defined as an electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within an EV. A rapid charging station is defined as an industrial grade electrical outlet that allows for faster recharging of EV batteries through higher power levels. A battery exchange station is defined as a fully automated facility that will enable an EV with a swappable battery to enter a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged battery through a fully automated process. Infrastructure must meet or exceed any applicable state building standards, codes, and regulations. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 19.27.540 and 19.28)

Provision for Alternative Fuels Corridor Pilot Projects

The Washington Department of Transportation may enter into partnership agreements with other public and private entities to use land for alternative fuel corridor pilot projects. Minimum requirements apply and these agreements are subject to funding availability. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 47.38.070)

State Agency Coordination to Address Climate Change

The Washington Department of Ecology worked with the Washington Departments of Commerce and Transportation to assess whether California's low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) or other state standards would help Washington meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 1990 levels by 2020. See the Department of Ecology's LCFS website for information about the assessment.

The Department of Transportation must work in consultation with the Departments of Ecology and Commerce and other interest groups to address low or zero emission vehicles. Additionally, the Office of the Governor will work with state agencies to seek funding to implement a project for the electrification of the West Coast interstate highway and associated metropolitan centers and to purchase electric vehicles and install public fueling and/or charging infrastructure for electric and other high-efficiency, zero, or low carbon vehicles.

(Reference Executive Order 09-05, 2009)

Biofuels Production and Distribution Contracts

Conservation districts, public development authorities, municipal utilities, and public utility districts may enter into crop purchase contracts to produce, sell, and distribute biodiesel produced from Washington feedstocks, cellulosic ethanol, and cellulosic ethanol blended fuels for utility and public use. Additionally, municipal utilities and public utility districts may produce and distribute biodiesel, ethanol, and ethanol blended fuels. (Reference Revised Code of Washington 35.21.465, 35.92.440, 54.04.190, and 89.08.570)

State Emissions Reductions Requirements

Washington must limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to achieve the following reductions:

• By 2020, reduce overall GHG emissions in the state to 1990 levels;
• By 2035, reduce overall GHG emissions in the state to 25% below 1990 levels; and
• By 2050, reducing overall emissions to 50% below 1990 levels, or 70% below the state's expected emissions that year.

To reach these goals, the state will ensure that vehicles sold in the state meet stringent emissions standards; work with farmers, entrepreneurs, fuel distributors, and retailers to ensure that biofuel feedstocks are grown in Washington; ensure that refiners, blenders, and distributors of biofuels create jobs in the state; and strive to make it possible for the public to purchase fuel blends that reduce dependence on imported oil. The Washington Department of Ecology developed a comprehensive plan to reduce the state's GHG emissions.

(Reference Revised Code of Washington 70.235.020 and Executive Order 07-02, 2007)